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Rank 3, Mission 1: "Watermark"

Started by Taishyr, February 28, 2018, 06:29:42 PM

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Taishyr

Torokasi> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16:31 <Torokasi> "This is Winter Tree. Autumn Dragon has a mission for you. When next you return, bring the Hairpin of Spring's Bloom. Train hard, Autumn Crow." The message only just misses awakening Crow as she begins to stir in the morning, the voice instantly recognizable as a Sending.
16:39 <AutumnCrow> "You don't need to tell me...wait, twenty five words, damn....um," Crow starts to respond instantly but catches herself,  "...mission understood. Tell mother I can use basic season stances! Be well, Uncle." Sitting up in bed, she runs the message back over in her head, "...was that over twenty five? Is twenty five one or two words? Ugh..."
16:41 <Torokasi> Lilian blinks next to her. "I think it counts as one. In general the spell is leinient, thankfully." Yawning as she sits up as well, "Someone back home?"
16:43 <AutumnCrow> "My uncle, Winter Tree, the...well, chief druid of the temple, I suppose. Not really much of an official position, but everyone who manages the fields reports to him." Crow slips an arm around Lilian, "mother had him send me a mission, so I suppose we'll need to do a bit of research. I need to get the Hairpin of Spring's Bloom, which...I'm not sure I've ever heard of."
16:43 <AutumnCrow> (OOC: Martial Lore check....14.)
16:46 <Torokasi> As Crow explains, a brief memory - more of a fragment than anything - comes back to her, of one of the women on a tapestry with a bright silver hairpin, a radiant flower on the end. Lilian nods slightly at her explanation, "It might be more difficult to find info here, but if anyone has info on objects of the Autumn Temple outside of the Temple itself, it'd be the Guild. Something we can ask someone to look into while we're out."
16:50 <AutumnCrow> "Hmm, that should be fine. I can use some of my share to pay someone to investigate, of course."
16:51 <Torokasi> "We can figure that out. Money hasn't really been something we've been spending through at a significant clip, to be honest." Lilian nods slightly, stretching.
16:52 <Torokasi> "We're leaving around eighth bell, right? Enough time to swing into the guild and ask a librarian, perhaps."
16:53 <AutumnCrow>  "I think aside from Janda and Mare, we'll all used to fairly frugal lifestyles. And those two have thier own money outside of what they've earned with Manifold." Crow laughs, and starts the process of getting ready for the day, "well Solmyr has his silly hat addiction, I suppose. And that seems fine."
16:56 <Torokasi> "I swear Solmyr makes those magically." Lilian laughs, preparing as well...
17:01 <Torokasi> The two prepare, and after the morning's light training, head to the guildhall, Lilian leading the way to the second floor and to a section of the floor Crow doesn't recall visiting, passing through two large oak doors and into a large, well-lighted open room. An exhausted-looking Talkyr looks up, its ears flickering. "Ah, miss Wardingrow. Here for something specific?"
17:01 <Torokasi> Lilian nods slightly. "My friend here is... trying to track down an artifact from the Autumn Temple. Any assistance would help." She then glances to Crow.
17:04 <AutumnCrow> "Good morning. I'm looking for any information on an item called the Hairpin of Spring's Bloom, it's...a bright silver hairpin with a flower on one end, and I'm afraid I don't know too much more about it."
17:06 <Torokasi> "Well, that's part of why we're here." The Talkyr smiles slightly. "I'll treat this as a formal research request. Any time span you want information in?"
17:09 <AutumnCrow> "Well, we're going to be out of the city for a few days so it's not immediate...I suppose in a week or so?" Crow looks over to Lilian with a bit of a shrug, "I'll be honest I have no idea how long research takes."
17:10 <Torokasi> "Ah, you're heading out of town soon? Understood. Check in when you get back, then, and I'll be able to give you what I know and how long any further research will take." The Talkyr nods before Lilian can reply.
17:11 <Torokasi> Lilian nods slightly. "That'll do, yes. Thank you, Srimdei." Then, to Crow, "Alright. Should we go wait for the others?"
17:13 <AutumnCrow> "Well that was simple, thank you." Crow smiles at the librarian and then nods to Lilian, "lets."
17:15 <Torokasi> The two head out, Lilian commenting as they get out, "I swear Srimdei sleeps less than I do... They're a follower of Erest Rosen, but I didn't know who would be on shift this morning. If there's anyone at the library that can help, it's Srimdei."
17:18 <AutumnCrow> "Well you seem to be getting more sleep lately than you apparently used to," Crow smirks at Lilian, "though I suppose the fact that I would throw your books out the window if you kept the light on too late reading them may have something to do with that."
17:20 <Torokasi> "That has a significant amount to do with it, yes." Lilian laughs. "Also, actively doing guild stuff is more tiring then research or practice, which helps."
17:22 <AutumnCrow> "That's true even compared to my practice regimen. Something about actual risk just...makes even smaller efforts so much more draining."
17:23 <Torokasi> "Yeah. Messing up feels... much more dangerous. Like, even if everything's under control, you don't feel like you can whiff." Lilian nods.
17:25 <Torokasi> The two get to the western gate, where Ary, Para, and Mare already wait, along with Wild Goose and a man Crow doesn't immediately recognize, Ary and Mare obviously deeply in conversation while Para seems to be trying to practically hide behind Ary. As the two get closer, Lilian's breath catches slightly, and Crow recognizes the man - it's Jagden Skire, talking with Ary about ... what sounds like White Raven and... Devoted Soul
17:25 <Torokasi> techniques.
17:27 — AutumnCrow trots up and gives her father a hug before greeting the others, "Good morning everyone...and pleasure to meet you, sir," she adds with a respecful incline of the head to Skire.
17:30 <Torokasi> "Morning, dear!" Goose replies, giving Crow a bear hug in return before blinking. "Ah, right. Crow, this is the current head of the Kerebos Guild, Jagden Skire. Jaggy, this is my daughter, Autumn Crow."
17:32 <Torokasi>  Mare and Lilian simultaneously bite their lips as Jagden glances to Wild Goose in amusement. "It's a pleasure, Autumn Crow." His eyes gleam golden in the sunlight as he nods to Crow, outstretching his hand. "I'm happy to have you as a member of the guild. I expect ... further great things from you."
17:36 <AutumnCrow> Taking his hand, Crow nodded, "I will of course do my best in all endevours." Having a though, she then looked back to her father, "Oh, father, I got a sending from uncle this morning. Mother apparently wants me to find the Hairpin of Spring's Bloom, would you know anything about it?"
17:38 <Torokasi> "Ah, you too? We did as well - it's why we're heading out." Then, to Crow's question,  "Hm. ... If I recall correctly, your mom said it was lost a while ago, but rumors would pop up about it occasionally - travelers mentioning they'd seen it somewhere, sort of thing. ...I don't recall any rumors of it reaching the Autumn Temple recently, though. Librarians or storytellers may have more insight?"
17:40 <AutumnCrow> "We put in a request at the library to look into it while we're out, at least." Crow nods.
17:40 <Torokasi> "Good, good." A pause, before Goose looks to Jagden. "You heard anything about it?"
17:42 <Torokasi> Jagden glances to Crow, then to Goose. "Not heard of, no. But give me a second..." His eyes seem to glint for a second... OOC: Int check.
17:44 <AutumnCrow> OOC: Int check 15
17:46 <Torokasi> Crow's head begins... pounding as she watches Jagden stare into space. Not painfully, but with heightened tension, almost. Jagden maintains his pose for what feels like minutes before relaxing, the tension in Crow's head dissipating. "I don't know where it is, except that it's not within the Mist - so likely in one of the cities. I'd check wherever the librarian says it was heard of last."
17:47 <Torokasi> Lilian tilts her head. "... That wasn't magic, I think? Sorry, sir, for interrupting, but what was that?"
17:49 <Torokasi> "It's... I have some limited ability to locate objects and locations in the Mist." Jagden offers after a second. "It's a long story as to how I acquired the knack, but it's not arcane magic or divine, as far as I know, no."
17:50 — AutumnCrow blinks a few times, "I would presume anyone who survives in the mist as long as you have picks up a unique trick or two, really."
17:51 <Torokasi> "There's more than enough unknown secrets in there that basically everyone in the Guild has something unique up their sleeves, given enough time, yes." Jagden chuckles. "I'm sure you all will pick some up as well in time. Speaking of, I don't think I caught your name, templar...?"
17:52 <Torokasi> "Of Erest Rosen, sir. I'm Lilian Wardingrow. It's, like, a pleasure." Lilian curtsies.
17:53 <Torokasi> "The pleasure is mine." Jagden smiles.
17:56 <Torokasi> It's at this point that Janda comes up, smiling widely to Jagden and curtsying as well, followed by Solmyr who looks generally confused at first before greeting Jagden eagerly. Mare is the one that asks the next question, "So, I get that Wild Goose is heading back to the Autumn Temple, but why are you heading there, sir? Didn't you just come from there?"
17:57 <Torokasi> Jagden nods slightly. "...It was Autumn Dragon's request. I don't actually know why, but I can label this as 'foreign diplomacy' and get out of responsibilities and paperwork with the Iron Tower this way, so I don't mind it, and she seems to want to talk about a few different things, so."
17:58 <Torokasi> Goose glances to Crow. "Don't take it Tree told you anything along these lines?"
17:59 <AutumnCrow> "No, he just said she had a mission for me, to find the Hairpin. Knowing mother she could already know where it is and is using this as an excuse to send me to that city without actually telling me to go there, though. She is smarter than she usually wants people to think she is," Crow shrugs.
18:02 <Torokasi> "That's possible. " Goose nods slightly as Janda glances to Crow in confusion. "She also hates giving explicit directions, so there's that.... We'll keep you updated if there's anything you need to know, I guess? Anyway, I think we've got everyone here and ready to head out?"
18:07 <AutumnCrow> "That seems to be everyone for my group. I'll wish you a pleasant trip full of mist monsters who have no idea what they're trying to bite off~" Crow smiles at her father and Skire.
18:09 <Torokasi> "Hahaha! Well, take care, Crow, and enjoy the expedition!" Goose smiles jovially, Jagden nodding pleasantly to the group as the two wheel out of the gates.
18:09 <Torokasi> Solmyr nods slightly. "We have anything else to cover, or shall we get going as well?"
18:11 <AutumnCrow> "Nothing immediate. I can catch you all up on the road," Crow shrugs.
18:12 <Torokasi> Solmyr nods as the group heads out...! OOC: Moment
18:18 <Torokasi> The group makes it onto the northern bridge without incident, before Lilian glances to Solmyr. "...Discern Location is one of those infamously difficult spells, right? I've read of it but I'm not sure even anyone at the temple of Erest Rosen can use it."
18:18 <Torokasi> Solmyr glances over to Lilian in return. "Yeah. Potent spell, it's rare anyone ever masters it. Why?"
18:19 <Torokasi> "... Jagden has some version of it. Maybe Locate Object, that's easier, but..." Lilian muses.
18:20 <AutumnCrow> "And it's eating you up how he can do that without being a spellcaster?" Crow smirks at Lilian.
18:23 <Torokasi> "...Sort of?" Lilian doesn't seem to notice Crow's smirk. "It's... startling. He did it, he did it fast, without any indication of any tools needed. Like, I'm not saying it's at all surprising per se for some of his power, but..."
18:25 <Torokasi> "...but you're having A Hunch." Mare finishes with a slight grin. "Well, it's worth keeping in mind, even if it leads nowhere, yes?"
18:27 <Torokasi> Ary hums. "He also knows a lot about the Devoted Spirit school, though that doesn't mean much considering he's a Templar for the Weeping Lady."
18:28 <AutumnCrow> "At least it gives us a starting point on the hairpin," Crow shrugs, "which for the two who came late, my uncle Winter Tree contacted me with Sending this morning telling me that mother wants me to find the Hairpin of Spring's Bloom and bring it back to the temple."
18:29 <Torokasi> "Ah, that's what that was about." Janda nods slightly. "I agree - it's probably more important right now that he was able to give a lead of some form to us, and more important still that we make this trip to Uhlemi."
18:30 <Torokasi> "Not that it's not important to find the hairpin, but- augh, you know what I mean. We have our mission in front of us is what I meant." Janda sputters out after a moment.
18:31 — AutumnCrow snickers, "I know what you meant, yes."
18:37 <Torokasi> Janda blushes slightly as the group carries onward to the end of the bridge, the Mist thick outside the barrier.  The guards are out in relative force, though they seem to be rather relaxed, gathered in groups of two or three and talking today. One duo waves slightly to Group Manifold as they approach, the younger calling out, "Stay safe out there. The Mist is supposed to be pretty thick the next few days."
18:39 <AutumnCrow> "We'll be careful," Crow nods and waves to the guards as they pass, "alright, Para you're on pathfinding."
18:42 <Torokasi> Para nods and steps ahead of the group as they enter this mist, Crow hearing faintly as they pass, "...yeah, I think she's the one that saved my sister during the Festival, when that crazy mage dude started..." And then they're through the Barrier, Para's eyes scouting ahead...
18:45 <Torokasi> The group marches through the Mist. And marches. Para occasionally comes back to the group but is mostly a few lengths in front, still visible in the Mist but ranging ahead quietly. Janda is the first to say anything substantial as the group marches, glancing over to Crow. "By the way... did you dream into my dream last night, or something?"
18:49 <AutumnCrow> "I did, yes. Sorry for not asking before hand, I wasn't intending to go dreamwalking at all last night, it just happened." Crow sighs, "it seems that thing I ran into in the dream that we told the temple of the weeping lady about? It was the alchemist trying to put a curse on me to kill me in my dreams. Before anyone panics, this attempt at a curse can't actually kill me because he had no
18:49 <AutumnCrow> idea I was a koshinite, Mare stands a better chance of besting me hand to hand than this does of killing me in the dream space."(more)
18:51 <AutumnCrow> "It did, however, make a giant mess of the dream space around me, so I need to try and clean it up. I wound up looking into your dream and taking some of...well, your mind's conceptualization of the Weeping Lady's purifying water, back out into the Stage with me as a tool to try and clean it up with. Unsure if that will work yet, but I may well be sucked into the Stage every night until I do
18:51 <AutumnCrow> clean it up, which could be inconvenient for us."
18:51 <AutumnCrow> During this explanation, Crow seems utterly nonplussed by this curse.
18:53 <Torokasi> "...you know, I'm okay being used as a negative reference point to burn that fuck in the afterlife." Mare replies glibly. "Still... really? He's that much of a sore loser?"
18:56 <Torokasi> "Wait, that's... okay I think that explains why I felt like the waters of the Temple were so important." Janda mutters. "I, uh, was late to meeting up because I took it as a sign that I should grab vials of water from the Temple. Maybe they'll be useful, still."
18:56 <AutumnCrow> "I'd have used Isabella instead, but I haven't seen her in action, I merely suspect that her melee abilities are non-existant instead of knowing it for a fact," Crow quips back, "and apparently, yes. But really, when someone has given themselves over to the Mist and then loses...what do they have left besides spite?"
18:58 <Torokasi> "I mean. I guess? I'm bad at understanding the mindset they get into, but it makes sense given how much of a shit he seems to have been." Mare shrugs. "So now you're cursed... maybe one of the Temples can cast remove curse when we get back?"
19:01 <AutumnCrow> "I did speak to Litas Naemach again, which is why I'm so unconcerned about the curse being able to hurt me," Crow explains, "if I can't figure out how to clean it up myself I'll talk to a priest yes. It may be a good opportunity to train my control over that realm, so I'll see what I can do without outside magical aid first."
19:03 <Torokasi> "Makes sense, certainly." Janda smiles briefly. "Though, as always, that being concerns me... but that's not the point.  Let me - or I imagine, any of us - know what we can do to help, and feel free to duck into my dream if you, uh, need more water or something?"
19:06 <AutumnCrow> "Well...I was actually thinking that I may be able to borrow something like that from everyone until I can combine it all to use the...well, essence of Manifold I suppose to repair the broken Stage area. But if anyone is uncomfortable with me entering thier dream, I can find another way to do it, this is just one idea that came to mind."
19:07 <Torokasi> "I'm fine with that." Ary offers. "If you want to head to mine next or whatever, I mean."
19:08 <Torokasi> "You sure she won't walk in on anything?" Mare grins at Ary, who simply rolls his eyes.
19:09 <AutumnCrow> "I'm sure if I try that tonight what I'll walk in on is dream Ary practicing all the maneuvers he talked about with Skire."
19:10 <Torokasi> "Honestly? Probably, yes. It was really interesting to hear him talk about how he's studied everything he learned." Ary commented, Mare now rolling her eyes.
19:13 <Torokasi> After a moment, Mare comments, "So... this is probably one of my Bad Ideas, but I'm going to float it - can you do more with dreams than enter them, Crow? I'm sort of envisioning a dreamscape practice thing plus we could all try to help you troubleshoot this curse thing."
19:16 <AutumnCrow> "I have no idea. Eventually...possibly. Right now, I'm not sure I should try bringing any of you actually into contact with the cursed dream space. I'm not against experimenting, but I'd like to do it in a controlled space instead of one I can't be certain of how stable it is."
19:18 <Torokasi> "Fair enough." Mare nods. "Figured I'd suggest it, at least." She glances to Para who's still scouting ahead. "...Despite the Mist, it seems really quiet today."
19:19 <AutumnCrow> "Even mist monsters are afraid of bigger mist monsters," Crow shrugs, "we're also a large group and still fairly close to town. I'm sure the quiet won't last forever."
19:22 <Torokasi> "True enough." Mare nods slightly as the group presses ahead...
19:26 <Torokasi> The group's trp continues for a while, before Para pauses as the group catches up to him. Ahead is a hill, with what looks like it might be a tower on top, though it's impossible to tell much through the Mist. Para's compass is pointing a path sort of moving alongside the hill, but his attention seems focused on the hill itself. "Not seen this before." he murmurs.
19:30 <AutumnCrow> "Hmm. Well, shall we investigate?"
19:31 <Torokasi> "I mean, can it hurt?" Mare shrugs with a grin. "Let's, I think. Even if we can't do much, it might be a decent place to spend the night."
19:32 <AutumnCrow> "This is out in the Mist, of course it can hurt," Crow laughs softly, "alright, Para you're the expert here. All together, or should Lilian make you invisible and you scout solo first?"
19:33 <Torokasi> "Go together, but I'll take the lead. Some creatures have good smell." Para nods slightly.
19:35 <AutumnCrow> "Alright. Solmyr I want you as our eyes in the rear, Ary right in front of him since we're trying to be at least a bit stealthy here, I'll be right behind Para, everyone else as you like."
19:37 <Torokasi> "Right." The group arranges themselves, Janda alongside Ary, Mare behind Crow, and Lilian next to Mare with her blade ready as Para advances. <More>
19:41 <Torokasi> As they reach the hill and begin to ascend, a light drizzle begins to fall, the Mist seeming to thicken a bit around the group.  The tower becomes more visible, a crumbled ruin, maybe about three stories tall and relatively wide, with the top practically cut open. Para seems unconcerned thus far as the group advances upward toward the entrance to the tower, a large opening with what looks like a slab of wood leaning against it.
19:43 <AutumnCrow> "...any tracks or signs that somone or thing has been in and out recently?" Crow quietly asks Para.
19:45 <Torokasi> Para shakes his head. "Nothing. At all. Not even animals."
19:47 <AutumnCrow> "Well...lets go take a look inside then."
19:50 <Torokasi> Para nods slightly as the group advances to and into the door, Para leading the way... OOC: Para's triggering Elfsight, noting this as a self-reminder as much as anything else
19:54 <Torokasi> The tower's insides are dark, the entry room a wrecked mess lit only by the light crawling in from the windows. Para seems to be counting entrances - there's one along the outside wall, going in either direction, and one in front of them, behind the ruins of a desk of some sort. After a moment, Para's body relaxes. "Nothing here that I can see."
19:56 <AutumnCrow> "Then lets look around and secure the place to make sure there's nothing here, and to see if there's anything interesting like trapdoors or the like," Crow nods, relaxes her stance as well and starts her own poking around!
20:02 <Torokasi> The group splits up, Solmyr and Ary with one group, Para and Lilian with the second, and Janda, Crow and Mare with the third as the tower gets swept through. Through the door Crow and the other two take, there's what looks to be a small barracks room and a stairwell up to the second floor, Mare leading the way with a magic light. Near the top of the stairwell, she glances through the window and blinks. "...I think we made the right call.
20:02 <Torokasi> It's suddenly pouring out there, Crow."
20:04 <AutumnCrow> "And heavy rain will drive down the Mist, too. Honestly I'll take getting caught in the rain to reduce the Mist concentration, having a good shelter like this is just the icing on the cake." Crow grins at the rain through the window.
20:06 <Torokasi> "Indeed." Mare grins as the three continue, scouting through the second floor of the barracks area and then into what appears to be the remnants of a meeting hall, the great table in the middle shattered apart, a sturdy door in the back of the room and an entry to another barracks room across from Crow's entry. Crow sees Solmyr and Ary trudge up the stairs in that room, Solmyr waving slightly.
20:07 <AutumnCrow> "Good timing on this find, hmm?" Crow waves back at the boys, "find anything interesting?"
20:12 <Torokasi> "Nothing, no. This tower seems pretty basic, unless the back half that Para and Lilian are examining has more interesting stuff." Solmyr shakes his head. "Looks like it was a guard barracks, long ago."
20:14 <Torokasi> Ary seems to be lost in thought, staring out the window, as Janda goes to look out the window with him. Mare glances to the door in the back of the meeting hall. "Should we go check that out or go see if Para and Lilian found anything? It's a large tower, but pretty spartan..."
20:14 <AutumnCrow> "May as well go open it up," Crow nods and heads over towards the large door.
20:22 <Torokasi> The group heads to the door, Crow cracking it open to see... a lit torch on the opposite wall, and stairs upward to both the left and right. The torch seems to only have just been lit, even.
20:22 <AutumnCrow> "....Lilian? Para?" Crow calls out, "are you lighting torches in here?"
20:23 <Torokasi> Solmyr tilts his head back as Crow calls out. "... This is officially weird, since I think they're still on the first floor. I didn't hear them reply, at least."
20:24 <AutumnCrow> "Alright, Solmyr go get them before we explore this any further."
20:25 <Torokasi> "Gotcha." Solmyr darts off, Ary moving up in front of Janda and Mare and peering upward. OOC: Spot check.
20:25 <AutumnCrow> OOC: 11 for Crow, 16 for Ary, you roll for the girls.
20:27 <Torokasi> OOC: 11 for Janda, nat 1 for Mare because Mareplot
20:27 <Torokasi> As the four wait, Ary blinks. "...Crow, look outside. It's not raining out those windows."
20:28 <AutumnCrow> "...so it's not. Ah...is this door some kind of magic portal? Mare, Janda, can either of you detect magic here?"
20:31 <Torokasi> Both immediately glance it over, before Mare winces. "Yeah, something weird is... going on here. It's not the door, though. It's the entire tower."
20:33 <AutumnCrow> "Right. Well then I think we have two choices, though I'll want Solmyr and Lilian to see if they can figure out what's going on with the magic, first. Either we go through the door, all of us together, or we go brave the rain."
20:34 <Torokasi> At this, Solmyr returns, with Para and Lilian in tow. Lilian speaks quickly, "You only opened the door a few minutes ago, right? I cast Detect Magic earlier, but it didn't sense anything until, like, just a minute ago."
20:34 — AutumnCrow closes the door. "Alright, now try again."
20:35 <Torokasi> "It's still present." Mare reports immediately, looking around.
20:36 <Torokasi> Solmyr glances around as well. "...I can't determine what the magics are, but there doesn't seem to be anything actively aggressive?"
20:38 <AutumnCrow> "Alright, before we go in, lets make sure we've got everything covered on this side. Para, go put Manifold's mark into something so we can tune the compass to this if needed. I'm going to go see if we can actually go back out the front door now that we've activated the magic or if the only way out is through this door. Mare, you're with me."
20:41 — AutumnCrow sets off to do just that!
20:44 <Torokasi> Para nods, pulling out the marking chalk, while Crow and Mare head to the bottom floor and the rest of the group prepares. Mare chuckles slightly to herself as they descend, but the two reach the exit door. Mare glances outside first, before pulling back in concern and letting Crow look outside. <More>
20:47 <Torokasi> The outside is flooded. The land had been dry when the group entered, the rain barely having started, but now floodwaters have reached all the way to just below the entry to the tower. The rain is still falling constantly, but it at least doesn't seem to be rising any higher. Mare manages to mutter, "The waters are magic, too, it looks like." as Crow looks out.
20:50 <AutumnCrow> "It seems we're being invited to stay," Crow deadpans, then snaps out a fan in irritation, "very well, I accept. Be careful what you ask for."
20:52 <Torokasi> Mare laughs, a bit nervously. "Yeah. The question is, how much higher will the water go? ...Let's head back up."
20:53 <AutumnCrow> "Just high enough to force us to go through the door into where there is no rain, I'm sure." Crow replies blithely while leading the way back up.
21:01 <Torokasi> "Ugh. Probably." Mare comments as they head back up and to the door. Para seems to be listening at the door as the group reunites, Ary shaking his head.
21:03 <Torokasi> Para looks over to Crow once they reach the door again. "I think I hear voices above."
21:04 <AutumnCrow> "So unless we'd like to swim away, leaving is no longer an option. The waters are climbing at a rate that can only be called magical." Crow nods to Para, "then lets go introduce ourselves, shall we?" There is not even a hint of freindliness in her tone, though her words are perfectly polite...and she hasn't yet put up her fan.
21:06 <Torokasi> "... Lovely." Ary nods as Para steps through the door, quickly scoping out the room, before gesturing to the left. There's a matching stairwell to the right, and two doors on the inside wall, but Para seems focused as he climbs the stairs, the group behind him.
21:08 — AutumnCrow is only a step behind Para, idly fanning herself as she goes...but has already slipped into the motions of her fighting stance.
21:09 <Torokasi> The group reconvenes outside the third story door, where Crow can hear a voice, "...they would have by now, you know? If they could."
21:10 — AutumnCrow knocks on the door.
21:14 <Torokasi> The voices immediately cease, and Para leans forward to listen at the door before stepping back slightly. A second later, the door creaks open, and a Talstedi's face - gaunt and exhausted - peeks out. "W-w-who are you? We didn't see no boats come in!"
21:17 <AutumnCrow> "We came through the door downstairs," Crow responds matter of factly, "we found an abandoned tower while exploring and once we opened a door on the second floor some strange magic activated and it began to flood. Presuming that wasn't your doing...perhaps we should compare notes."
21:20 <Torokasi> "...what?!" The man stutters after a moment, but he steps back to let the group in. Inside the room are three others, all Talstedi - two women and one other man. Of them, one of the women looks injured, as does the other man, and there is broken armor and a trident lying against the wall. The first man looks the group over before, "How the blazes you're exploring out here without a door? And in this damn fog?"
21:22 <AutumnCrow> "Without a...door?" Crow blinks, then shakes her head, "Janda, see to the injured."
21:23 <AutumnCrow> Then she turns her attention back to the man, "is this anywhere near Verxais or the Autumn Temple? Lets get on the same page for circumstances here. Magic is involved, so we may be from two very different places."
21:24 <Torokasi> Janda nods and quickly moves toward the injured individuals, while the man continues to sputter. "You're sayin' you're out here, no  boat, no door to get from coast to island- ... Versace? Ain't never heard of that or any Autumn Temple. You heard of any of that, Qila?"
21:28 <Torokasi> The injured woman shakes her head as Janda examines her wounds. "Can't say so, no. Autumn Temple sounds like it could be... uh, maybe a temple of Suiren or Rathan I dunno about?"
21:29 <Torokasi> "Who?" Janda blinks.
21:29 <Torokasi> "...y'all drunk teleporters or something?" The man mutters. "Just our luck. Please tell me you've got enough to get us offa this island. They didn't have room on the last boat, they said."
21:31 <AutumnCrow> "I think we can assume that we have no common frames of reference then," Crow shakes her head and puts up her fan, "well, once Janda has your injured back on your feet you can come with us back downstairs to see if the door takes us back to where we came from. If it does, we'll take you back to Verxais and perhaps the Horizon Guild can help you find your way back to wherever you come
21:31 <AutumnCrow> from...though that seems unlikely I'm going to be honest. My name is Autumn Crow, and this is my team, Manifold. We're from the Kerebos Guild, though you probably haven't heard of that either."
21:32 <Torokasi> The injured man mutters, "Proper noun gobbledegook."
21:33 <AutumnCrow> "We can also stop treating your injuries and just leave on our own, if you'd prefer."
21:36 <Torokasi> Janda snorts slightly as she moves over to him, the woman experimentally removing the bandage and stretching her shoulder in relief.  After a moment, she looks to Crow. "No, it's appreciated... We've been here for ten days without any other contact. Please forgive us. You said the Kerebos Guild? I can't say that I've heard of this, but after how lousy this guard gig has been, maybe I need to try and sign up with them... I'm Qila, a
21:36 <Torokasi> follower of Madach. The delusional injured man is Tempet, the cranky one is Oyle, and Khism is the mute lady in the corner. "
21:37 <Torokasi> "So, question. You've been here for ten days, and you're obviously injured from something. ...how have you been attacked if there's no way here?" Ary frowns, crossing his arms.
21:38 <AutumnCrow> "A fair question," Crow looks over them, though she has her own suspicions of the answer.
21:39 <Torokasi> "The yeek swimmers, fool!" Oyle mutters before Qila's death glare causes him to regain some composure. "They strike once every few days, there's always more of them, and they keep trying to drag us down with them. Qila's our only trained combatant - Tempet tried, but lad can't fucking hold a sword to save his life. Dropped it in the drink and one of the furballs swam off with it."
21:40 <Torokasi> Qila sighs. "I was supposed to keep these three safe until the boat came. But that was scheduled for six days ago, and  they were panicked about this dumb fog. Surely, though, it's just delayed."
21:41 <Torokasi> Tempet giggles a bit. "Delayed raid belayed played out. Stranded, we're totally stranded here."
21:41 <Torokasi> Qila looks to Janda standing over him. "Janda, was it? Feel free to pinch him. He started going incoherent a day or two ago."
21:43 <AutumnCrow> "Well, if the door we came through still works, lets get you all back to where we come from. We have provisions enough for an extra four people if we cut our trip short and go straight back to the city, and every member of this group is a trained combatant. We've dealt with yeeks before, and far worse as well."
21:43 <Torokasi> Janda continues to examine him as Qila stands, shakily. "I'll head down wi-"
21:44 <Torokasi> Oyle interrupts, "No, I'll go. You need to protect Khism and that fool blowhard of a boy, and if there's a way off this damn island you'll hear me whooping, I tell you what."
21:45 <Torokasi> "They said we all go. We all go we all go wee." Tempet gets up, clumsily, as Janda steps back in confusion.
21:46 <Torokasi> Khism stands as well as Qila sighs. "Right. I suppose I can't give you three any patience. Please, lead the way, Lady Autumn Crow."
21:46 <AutumnCrow> "We can escort all four of you at once, without issue. Ary, Lilian, Mare, lend the injured a shoulder. Para, keep your bow handy in case of poorly timed yeeks."
21:47 — AutumnCrow lets people get sorted out, then leads the way down.
21:47 <Torokasi> Para nods as Ary, Lilian and Mare offer support to the three civilians. Solmyr seems to offer support to Qila, but she shakes it off slightly and moves next to Crow as the group heads down the stairs. <More>
21:51 <Torokasi> The table in the meeting hall is whole again, abandoned cutlery and dirty dishes littering the room. Crow and the rest of the group pass through the door into the room with little effort, Mare shaking her head slightly as they step through. "The magic's still coating the tower, and the rain stopped in those windows too." Indeed, all that's visible through the southern windows is the Mist. "And, uh, while us seven are fine, they're coated
21:51 <Torokasi> in low-level magic. Or well, they might be fine and we're the problem because we don't have it, sort of thing."
21:53 <AutumnCrow> "Interesting. Para, check your compass, can you find any of our anchor points?"
21:53 <Torokasi> Para unwinds his compass, before frowning and glancing at the wall. "...not even the one I put here."
21:55 <AutumnCrow> "Try Uhlemi."
21:57 <AutumnCrow> "Not the mark we placed, but the bunker itself. Or perhaps the overcore room, you should have a strong enough memory of that I'd think."
21:57 <Torokasi> Para nods, focusing...
21:58 <Torokasi> before the stone seems to flip out. After a moment, Para shakes his head. "Can't focus right now. It's not finding anything."
22:01 <AutumnCrow> "Right...well, time to start brainstorming, people. We came into this tower on a hill, only one day out from Verxais. Entered the tower and it started raining. We opened a door and that activated some magic that led through to where we found the four of you...and now passing back through the door doesn't lead us back. Magical experts, what can we do to either de-activate or re-activate that
22:01 <AutumnCrow> magic, whichever the problem is?"
22:03 <Torokasi> Solmyr and Lilian look to each other, but it's Janda that speaks up first, "...Well, there's cases of things like this in, uh, fables. That's the first thing that comes to mind.
22:04 <Torokasi> Oyle seems about to speak but Qila elbows him as Ary nods slightly along with Lilian. "There are. Though usually it's... less drastic? When the Mist gets its deepest, even the place you are seems to melt away, sort of thing. It's possible that this tower was in a deep pocket, so to speak." Ary comments.
22:05 <Torokasi> Lilian looks to Solmyr. "I can't speak from a magic end of this, but... that makes some sense to me. In that case what we'd need to do is wait until the Mist would dissolve from this area, which ... should deposit us back where we were at?"
22:07 <AutumnCrow> "How often does it rain here?" Crow looks at their hosts, "the Mist disspates after a heavy rain."
22:07 <Torokasi> Qila tilts her head, before muttering what sounds like a prayer. "...it feels like one will come in a day. Are you saying the fog brought you here?"
22:08 <AutumnCrow> "Hardly the strangest thing we've seen from the Mist," Crow shrugs, "though it's up there."
22:09 <Torokasi> Solmyr, for his part, is frowning. "There's tales and fables, but they're inconsistent and the pattern doesn't match. And usually there's a trigger that works both ways, like the door. Unless... Unless." Then, to Crow, "...Unless this has something to do with you. Or, rather, not with you, but with what the alchemist did?"
22:10 <AutumnCrow> "Less likley to do with me and more likely to do with the time fragments you all are using, I'd think." Crow smirks, "not everything is about me, after all."
22:11 <Torokasi> "...I hadn't thought of those, but that could be it as well." Solmyr admits. "But the reason I think it's you is you told us about that whole dream thing - Stage, Setting, Story. ...This is their Story, isn't it?"
22:12 <Torokasi> "Iiiii think that's a leap." Mare comments. "It might be a right leap, but it's a leap. Regardless, we can help them with whatever's going on and then get ourselves out first chance we get, with them in tow if we can."
22:12 <AutumnCrow> "...it could be, yes. I have no ability to detect magic, if we somehow walked into the dreamscape I'd have no way to tell if it usually looks like magic like this." Crow shrugs and checks to see if she has the shard of purity that shoudl only be in physical state when she's in the dream.
22:14 <Torokasi> It doesn't seem to be there, at least. Para thinks, before pulling the compass out again and focusing one more time...
22:15 <AutumnCrow> "I doubt this is a dreamscape, I don't have the purity shard and Naemach said I would in the dream."
22:15 <Torokasi> ...and the pendant swings to the southwest, Para frowning at it. Qila watches it, before, "That's the direction town is in, if that matters."
22:15 <Torokasi> Para tilts his head. "I thought of Verxais but it did nothing. This time, I thought of the canyon. It's still there."
22:16 <Torokasi> Lilian shakes her head, before, from downstairs, a loud crash can be heard. Qila mutters, "Shit. You three, get back upstairs. Autumn Crow, may I ask your team's assistance? I will not be enough alone."
22:18 <AutumnCrow> "You step back as well, just leave this to us." Crow waves her back and then pulls her scarf out, "be ready to stab any that try to make it past us."
22:20 <Torokasi> "O-ok. They can use water to attack. Be careful." Qila nods slightly, standing to block the door as the other three flee back upstairs. After a moment, she calls to Oyle, "Throw the trident down to me when you get up there!"
22:21 <Torokasi> Lilian and Solmyr look at each other, before Lilian looks to Crow. "I don't like it but I think our best option is through. At the least, the rain in a day should end... whatever this Mist situation is. We probably want to hold this floor, or do you want to try and fight down to the first floor?"
22:23 <AutumnCrow> "We'll hold this floor. I'll hold the center with my scarf, Ary, Lil, you're mobile. Para, Mare, Solmyr, pick off any one using ranged attacks. Janda...do Janda things." Crow smirks, "an easily defended space like this is the wrong place for them to try and fight this group."
22:26 <Torokasi> "Got it." The team nods, getting into formation....
22:26 <Torokasi> ------------------------------------------------------------------

Taishyr

Torokasi> -----------------------------------------------------------------
17:23 <Torokasi> Another crash from downstairs can be heard, and then another, before the sound of footsteps on the stairs can be heard.  The yeeks rush in- but these yeeks look... wrong. Slightly larger, with bloodshot eyes and sharp teeth in their small jaw, and webbing on their hands and feet. Three rush in from each doorway...! OOC: Roll init
17:23 <Torokasi> OOC: Also, Para buffs are up
17:25 <AutumnCrow> OOC: Crow 23, Ary 21, Para 24. All presuming Janda's +3 from motivate dex, ofc
17:28 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow > Ls2 > Ary > Ls1 > Lm1 > Janda > Rm1 > Lilian > Rs1 > Rs2 > Mare = Solmyr
17:32 <Torokasi> Four of the yeeks have what appear to be small tridents in hand and a translucent-white armor around their chest, two of each on both side flanking unarmed yeeks with the same translucent armor. They're not that far away, but just far enough to not be in immediate range, with the ones from the left doorway seeming to adjust to the surprising number of threats faster...! OOC: Para's up. The closest ones are 15ft from Crow, while the rest
17:32 <Torokasi> are 20ft.
17:35 <AutumnCrow> Para takes aim at one of the unarmed yeeks, presuming those to be the ones that will use strange water attacks, and lets fly a pair of arrows! (OOC: Rapid Shot, Metaphysical weapon and Animal Affinity(Dex) both active. Attack 1: 28 to hit, 11 damage. Attack 2 22 to hit, 14 damage. This is assuming Favored Enemy Yeeks +4 applies, ofc)
17:37 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow > Ls2 > Ary > Ls1 > Janda > Rm1 > Lilian > Rs1 > Rs2 > Mare = Solmyr
17:38 <Torokasi> The first arrow causes the yeek to spin in place, blood spurting onto its allies, before the second sends it flying back into the room it came from, Para smirking! The two yeeks that were ostensibly guarding it growl in anger...! OOC: Crow.
17:43 — AutumnCrow slips towards the two yeeks who just lost thier...whatever that unarmed one was supposed to be, and lashes out with her scarf from hopefully just beyond spear range, attempting to cut off any thoughts they had of rushing Para after that display. As her scarf whips out, a line of fire rushes along the length somehow without burning the cloth. (OOC: Burning blade in anticipation of
17:43 — AutumnCrow AoOs. 19 to hit, Damage 6 phys + 9 fire)
17:46 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow > Ls2 > Ary > Ls1 (13/28) > Janda > Rm1 > Lilian > Rs1 > Rs2 > Mare = Solmyr
17:46 <Torokasi> The yeek yelps as the burning scarf slams into its face, drawing blood through blunt trauma!  Its ally bellows something in its tongue, before, "Die, witch!" as it attempts to close in on Crow! OOC: You get an AoO on this one.
17:49 <AutumnCrow> "No." Crow replies succinctly, sweeping her scarf right into the path of the oncoming yeek exactly like she anticipated! (OOC: AoO attack 29...which i sa threat. Does 17 confirm?. Damage 7 Phys + 8 fire(and 8 more phys if that confirmed)).
17:51 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow > Ls2  (13/28) > Ary > Ls1 (13/28) > Janda > Rm1 > Lilian > Rs1 > Rs2 > Mare = Solmyr
17:53 <Torokasi> The yeek raises its trident to try and block the blow, which saves it merely from getting struck down in one hit as the scarf slams across it, burning and bruising through the armor as the yeek stumbles but still tries to jab at Crow... a very awkward jab that Crow doesn't even need to move to dodge! OOC: Ary
17:57 <AutumnCrow> Seeing that Crow has one half of the room handled, Ary moves towards the other, rushing at the yeeks using tridents and trying to cleave one apart in a single blow! (OOC: We all know what's coming. B. L. C. 2 into PA, and he will rush into whatever position he can get cleave with if this kills. Attack 22, damage...thank you punishing stance, 25+4 from punishing stance. Can he get a cleave on
17:57 <AutumnCrow> the other one?)
18:00 <Torokasi> OOC: Yep, cleave away
18:00 <AutumnCrow> (OOC: Cleave attack 20. Damage 14+5 PS)
18:02 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow > Ls2  (13/28) > Ary > Ls1 (13/28) > Janda > Rm1 > Lilian > Rs2 (9/28) > Mare = Solmyr
18:04 <Torokasi> The first yeek crumples entirely with a single swing, its body managing to slightly mute the blow as it slams into the second yeek warrior, creating a large, gashing wound! The yeek Crow first aimed for tries to move in to attack Crow...! OOC: Scarf, reach, you have the AoO to take, yes?
18:06 <AutumnCrow> (OOC: ....somehow I don't have combat reflexes? Oi. Next level then. AC still 23)
18:08 <Torokasi> But the second yeek's thrust also laughably fails to connect as Janda waits...! The unarmed yeek, its bodyguards dead, starts screaming frantically before gesturing out to Ary violently! OOC: Will save for Ary.
18:09 <AutumnCrow> (OOC: Will save 17. time to see if that Iron Will was a good investment)
18:12 <Torokasi> Ary stares straight at the yeek as it gestures, before shrugging with a mocking grin. The yeek itself seems to panic even further at the sight of this, Lilian glancing to Qila. "... Are these the water-users?"
18:13 <Torokasi> Qila shakes her head. "No. The water-using yeeks are robed in blue."  The badly injured yeek near Ary, meanwhile, scrambles to its feet and lunges at Ary in retaliation! OOC: Ary's AC?
18:14 <AutumnCrow> (OOC: 14 normally, 12 rn because he charged. Ary dot tee ex tee)
18:21 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow > Ls2  (13/28) > Ary > Ls1 (13/28) > Janda > Rm1 (8/18, shaken) > Lilian > Rs2 (9/28) > Mare = Solmyr
18:21 <Torokasi> The yeek's blow lands on Ary's armor and bounces off, Ary turning to smirk at the yeek in turn!  Mare looks between the four available targets, before shooting the uninjured, if plenty frightened, mentalist yeek with a ray of sickly grey light, causing it to shriek unintelligibly as the pain racks it! Solmyr, too, looks between the targets...
18:24 <Torokasi> ...before preparing a spell, shaking his head. "If only I had Fireball already. Geez." OOC: Top of the round, Ary.
18:24 <Torokasi> OOC: Actually, moment.
18:26 <Torokasi> From the adjacent rooms, Crow can see... a blue-robed yeek and a larger warrior coming up the stairs, the blue-robed yeek freezing at seeing Crow. Ary calls out, "Two big ones coming up this side, plus one of the shitty psions!"
18:27 <Torokasi> OOC: All reinforcements are about 30ft away on the stairs in their rooms. Para's up, not Ary.
18:28 <AutumnCrow> "Oh, we have one of the water casters on this side. And a large one...well, large for a yeek anyway." Crow sounds...completely unimpressed.
18:30 <Torokasi> "Look, we have to have standards here. Is it large, or just an angry toddler?" Lilian comments.
18:31 <AutumnCrow> Para takes aim at the other psion, not sure if whatever Mare did to it is taking it out of the fight or not. He is sure that an arrow through the skull will, though. (Rapid Shot, Arrow 1 23 to hit, 10 damage, Arrow 2 15 to hit, 9 damage)
18:35 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow > Ls2  (13/28) > Ary > Ls1 (13/28) > Janda > Lilian > Rs2 (9/28) > Mare = Solmyr
18:35 <Torokasi> The first arrow slams hard into its chest, pinning it into the wall; Ary shifts, and Para's second shot goes wide, missing both the larger yeek and the smaller one, but still bringing the small one down! OOC: Crow. Both soldier/warrior types are in range.
18:39 <AutumnCrow> Keeping up her offensive, Crow halfsteps back and lashes out a fast blow at each of the two yeeks she's fighting with, her scarf managing to erupt in fire again...though this one seems much weaker. (OOC: burning a fiery fists, which I can use with teh scarf as it counts as a monk weapon. Flurry of Blows, one attack at each yeek. Attack 1 ...27 to hit, threaten AGAIN. ...8 to confirm. Really.
18:39 <AutumnCrow> Damage 8 phys + 1 fire. Attack 2,, 223 to hit, damage 9 phys + 6 fire.)
18:39 <AutumnCrow> (...that is 22, not 223. Obviously)
18:42 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow > Ary > Ls1 (4/28) > Janda > Lilian > Rs2 (9/28) > Mare = Solmyr
18:43 <Torokasi> The first yeek manages to shield itself from the worst of the blow, but the second one isn't so lucky, the armor around it crumpling along with the yeek's body as the scarf slams hard and fiery into it! OOC: Ary
18:46 <AutumnCrow> Regaining his poise after the charge, Ary brings his katana down hard on the yeek still staggering on its feet in front of him, then takes a couple steps back from the entrance so he's not blocking the way. Gotta let the enemies into the room so the ranged fighters can make them wish they hadn't, after all. (OOC: normal attack, still 2 into PA. Attack 20, Damage...9+1 PS, minimized.)
18:47 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow > Ary > Ls1 (4/28) > Janda > Lilian >  Mare = Solmyr
18:52 <Torokasi> A weaker blow, but still enough to fell the yeek warrior as Ary steps back to let the new friends in! The yeek glaring at Crow, however, steps in and attempts to skewer Crow... before being blithely dismissed as Crow's scarf knocks its short trident aside. OOC: Janda, Lilian holding.
18:53 <AutumnCrow> "Janda, we have more coming. Singing would be nice now I think."
18:56 <Torokasi> Mare snorts, before gesturing at the yeek attempting to bully Crow, a sickly grey light shooting from it to wither the yeek to dust! At Crow's words, Janda readies herself and begins singing and playing! OOC: Inspire Courage +1 is going now. Lilian still holding to drop a spell once the next groups enter, Solmyr also holding... time for Yeeks to enter init, moment
19:00 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow > LBl1 > LAq1 > Ary > RBl1 > RBl2 > Rm2 > Janda > Lilian >  Mare = Solmyr
19:04 <Torokasi> The group's breath seems to move as one, before the second wave of yeeks come through the doorways, malice in the air! Behind them, Crow can see two more of the smaller melee yeeks and... another blue-robed yeek, with a golden circlet perched upon its head and a watery veil seemingly around it. The bigger melee yeeks coming in have the short tridents as well, but there seems to be blood dripping off the points as well as off their
19:04 <Torokasi> grinning teeth... OOC: Para. Crow has two near her, Ary three near him.
19:07 <AutumnCrow> Para takes aim at the one visible blue robed yeek from his vantage point and lets his arrows fly. Gotta kill those casters. (OOC: Rapid shot, Attack 1 20 to hit, 14 damage, attack 2 27 to hit, 12 damage. Pew pew)
19:09 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow > LBl1 > Ary > RBl1 > RBl2 > Rm2 > Janda > Lilian >  Mare = Solmyr
19:10 <Torokasi> The arrows slam straight into the aquamancer, the first staggering it and the second piercing its eyeball, killing it instantly! OOC: Crow. It's within 10ft based on where you were last time, so
19:14 — AutumnCrow shifts position to get closer to the large yeek than she has to, in order to make it very hard for that yeek to go around her to the casters. Then she snaps out her scarf with two quick blows to test its defenses. (OOC: Flurry of Blows. Attack 1 ...28 I shit you not that is a third threat. Confirm...15. Damage 7. Attack 2 23, Damage 11)
19:16 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow > LBl1 (21/39) > Ary > RBl1 > RBl2 > Rm2 > Janda > Lilian >  Mare = Solmyr
19:17 <Torokasi> Crow's scarf slams in, twice, badly bruising it and snapping a bone on the second blow! Still it stands, stepping it to glare at Crow as its trident tries to jab in...!  But Crow's scarf knocks this blow aside as well, the blood warrior scowling! OOC: Ary.
19:26 <AutumnCrow> Ary carefully steps up so that both of the big warriors are in reach and tenses up before lashing out a powerful two handed blow across them both at once! (OOC: Steel Wind, 4 in PA this time, lets see how this goes. Attack 1 24 to hit, damage 21+2 PS. Attack 2 23 to hit, damage 21+4 PS. Gamble paid off.)
19:30 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow > LBl1 (21/39) > Ary > RBl1 (16/39) > RBl2 (14/39) > Rm2 > Janda > Lilian >  Mare = Solmyr
19:32 <Torokasi> The blow swings across, cutting a bloody, gaping wound in both of their chests! The warriors both narrow their eyes at Ary, before one steps to flank him as both jab inward with their tridents! As they pierce Ary's body, Ary curses...! OOC: Two Fort saves
19:37 <AutumnCrow> OOC: Save 1 15, save 2 20.
19:44 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow > LBl1 (21/39) > Ary (35/58) > RBl1 (27/39) > RBl2 (14/39) > Rm2 > Janda > Lilian >  Mare = Solmyr
19:45 <Torokasi> The second one's trident flashes briefly before returning to normal - but the first one flashes before a sickening green aura appears around it, Ary recoiling back as the massive wound across the yeek's chest begins to heal, flesh knotting up and muscles growing before your eyes! Meanwhile, the psion gestures at Ary in much the same way as the previous one...  OOC: Will save for Ary.
19:46 <AutumnCrow> OOC: Will save 24, Ary having none of this psychic bullshit
19:48 <Torokasi> But Ary seems to not even notice, the psion grunting in annoyance! OOC: Janda  keeps playing - Ary is just above the half HP threshold and isn't statused in any obvious way. Lilian.
19:52 <Torokasi> Lilian eyes Crow's side, shakes her head briefly, and chants quietly before the corner just past Ary's door bursts with lights, sending glittering dust into the eyes of the three yeeks! The two warriors seem unphased but the small psion starts screaming frantically!
19:52 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow > LBl1 (21/39) > Ary (35/58) > RBl1 (27/39) > RBl2 (14/39) > Rm2 (blinded) > Janda > Lilian >  Mare = Solmyr
19:55 <Torokasi> Mare and Solmyr both turn toward Ary's threats, Solmyr scowling as he watches the one warrior's wounds mend. "That one, I think."
19:56 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow > LBl1 (21/39) > Ary (35/58) > RBl1 (18/39) > RBl2 (14/39) > Rm2 (blinded) > Janda > Lilian >  Mare = Solmyr
20:00 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow > LBl1 (21/39) > Ary (35/58) > RBl1 (7/39) > RBl2 (14/39) > Rm2 (blinded) > Janda > Lilian >  Mare = Solmyr
20:00 <Torokasi> Mare snorts. "Don't need to tell me that!" With that, she fires another ray of grey light at the yeek healing itself, causing its skin to shrink back from the previously-mending wound! It seems unphased by the energies mentally, however, glaring at Mare from past Ary! Solmyr, meanwhile, chants as three points of electrified light appear in front of him before shooting toward the healing yeek as well, jolting it back and stiffening its
20:00 <Torokasi> bones with pain! OOC: That's Mare and Solmyr. Top of the round, more enemies, one second...
20:03 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow > LBl1 (21/39) > Ary (35/58) > Ls3 > Rs3 > RBl1 (7/39) > RBl2 (14/39) > Rm2 (blinded) > Ls4 > Janda > Rs4 > Lilian > Boss Aquamancer = Hydrogon > Mare = Solmyr > RAqua1
20:07 <Torokasi> The two smaller yeek guards quickly move to the sides of Crow's current target, while behind them the next Yeek Aquamancer steps in... and a chilling wave of vapor seems to soak the air as, around it and above, a draconic head of water manifests itself, lashing to and fro in rage, icy eyes somehow glistening as it glares at Crow! Meanwhile, on Ary's side, he curses as another one of the smaller yeek warriors moves next to the psion,
20:07 <Torokasi> "Shit - two more in the doorway as well!" OOC: Para. Para can see anyone except RAqua and Rs4, who are still technically in the next room over.
20:08 <Torokasi> "By Madach, I've not seen one create such a creature before..." Qila mutters under her breath.
20:08 <AutumnCrow> Para is a simple creature with simple needs. He sees a yeek in blue doing weird shit, he shoots it. (Rapid Shot on the Boss Aqua then. Attack 1 24 to hit, 12 damage. Attack 2 24 to hit, ...12 damage. Consistancy is a virtue I suppose)
20:09 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow > LBl1 (21/39) > Ary (35/58) > Ls3 > Rs3 > RBl1 (7/39) > RBl2 (14/39) > Rm2 (blinded) > Ls4 > Janda > Rs4 > Lilian > Boss Aquamancer (12/???) = Hydrogon (12/???) > Mare = Solmyr > RAqua1
20:12 <Torokasi> The arrows slam into the yeek aquamancer with ease... but it's obvious to Crow that something is wrong as soon as they land. The arrows one moment were deep in the creatures' flesh, and the next moment clattering to the ground, the yeek growling in pain in tandem with the watery dragon above its head! It eyes Para maleovently, before, "As Yillkilith, Auditor of The New God, I will ensure your death is painful, accursed creature you are."
20:13 <Torokasi> Para simply snorts in response, clearly slightly annoyed at the lessened impact of these shots. OOC: Crow. You can't reach the Aquamancer without tumbling past at least one small yeek warrior and the large yeek warrior, but all three of the warriors are in range.
20:14 <AutumnCrow> OOC: is there room to jump over them? I do have Sudden Leap prepared
20:15 <Torokasi> OOC: They're short enough and the ceiling would be tall, so yes, I think so.
20:18 <AutumnCrow> Crow smirks, "Auditor? Do you serve the god of taxes? How terrifying," she deadpans as she slips back weaving just out of spear range before suddenly launching forward and up, over and past the warriors to land directly next to the Auditor, her scarf coming down in a clean arc as she falls...that misses by inches as her left hand snaps her fan out from her belt, concealed by the movements of
20:18 <AutumnCrow> the scarf and the leap. (OOC: Doing a second line for all these rolls, I got a bunch)
20:21 <AutumnCrow> (OOC: Switching stance to Soaring Swallow Stance, and using Sudden Leap. Jump check 30 you're gonna give me a 20 on this and not the attack, okay. Tumble 21 to avoid AoOs for the jump. Quick Draw the fan, and use Insightful Strike. Attack Roll 24, damage is equal to my Concentration check so...1d20+10 = 27. get dunked)
20:23 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow > LBl1 (21/39) > Ary (35/58) > Ls3 > Rs3 > RBl1 (7/39) > RBl2 (14/39) > Rm2 (blinded) > Ls4 > Janda > Rs4 > Lilian > Boss Aquamancer (25/???) = Hydrogon (24/???) > Mare = Solmyr > RAqua1
20:27 <Torokasi> Yillkilith screams as the fan slashes down across his face and robe, the blood almost spurting out - but suddenly oozing instead, the aqua dragon above it spitting frothing water as it writhes about! It glares at Crow hatefully, "The tax is your life, sinful worshipper of worthless gods! Kill her!" The warrior spins to face Crow at this... with the momentum from its spin causing it to fumble its weapon, Yillkilith glaring at its servant
20:27 <Torokasi> hatefully.
20:29 <Torokasi> OOC: Ary.
20:36 <AutumnCrow> "I worship only the power of the human spirit," Crow coldly retorts, "and its worth is bleeding out of your side right now."
20:39 <AutumnCrow> Ary has no time for Crow's banter as he is kinda being harrassed by some big guys. Shifting his weight, he takes a careful line up towards the enemy who did not heal, and slams his sword out while pulling power of the earth up into his arms to help stand against further assault. (OOC: Stone Bones. 4 into PA again. Attack roll 18 vs RBl1 if I'm parsing these right, Damage 23+1 PS if that hits.
20:39 <AutumnCrow> If that kills can he cleave onto the other one? Also, Ary gains DR 5/Adamantine for 1rd)
20:41 <Torokasi> OOC: Barely hits, and yes, it kills RBl2 (RBl1 was healing but then got slammed  more by Solmyr/Mare, so by description you hit RBl2 and kill it. Roll cleave, only option is RBl1 due to formation.)
20:42 <AutumnCrow> (OOC: Cleave attack 14, so that's a whiff)
20:43 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow > LBl1 (21/39) > Ary (35/58) > Ls3 > Rs3 > RBl1 (7/39) > Rm2 (blinded) > Ls4 > Janda > Rs4 > Lilian > Boss Aquamancer (25/???) = Hydrogon (24/???) > Mare = Solmyr > RAqua1
20:45 <Torokasi> Ary's blade cuts again, slashing straight through the unhealed yeek, while the badly injured one barely fends off the cleaving blow! One of the small yeeks near Crow glares, stepping in and thrusting with its spear... only to almost hit the Aquamancer instead, who hisses at its subordinate!
20:48 <Torokasi> Meanwhile, the small yeek near Ary's psion chitters slightly, before stepping past the psion... as a glowing yellow trident superimposes itself upon its weapon, the yeek chucking the thought-spear at Ary! OOC: Will save for Ary. Finally one of them is in a position to use its thought-forged weapon.
20:49 <AutumnCrow> OOC: Problems. Will 11
20:51 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow > LBl1 (21/39) > Ary (32/58, shaken) > Ls3 > Rs3 > RBl1 (7/39) > Rm2 (blinded) > Ls4 > Janda > Rs4 > Lilian > Boss Aquamancer (25/???) = Hydrogon (24/???) > Mare = Solmyr > RAqua1
20:53 <Torokasi> Ary jerks back as its spear hits, passing through Ary's armor - and though his face looks like he's trying to keep his cool, his armor is clattering as the injured large warrior attempts to strike again, its spear landing in Ary's shoulder...! OOC: Fort save for poor Ary.
20:53 <AutumnCrow> OOC: Fort is better, 19 despite being shaken.
21:00 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow (32/37) > LBl1 (21/39) > Ary (32/58, shaken) > Ls3 > Rs3 > RBl1 (7/39) > Rm2 (blinded) > Ls4 > Janda > Rs4 > Lilian > Boss Aquamancer (25/???) = Hydrogon (24/???) > Mare = Solmyr > RAqua1
21:02 <Torokasi> But the spear fails to glow this time, the yeek wincing as it prepares itself...!  Meanwhile, the panicking, blinded yeek... simply stands there, shivering, while the other small warrior near Crow lashes out at her, her scarf not in the way this time to block - but her hand and arm take the brunt of the blow! Janda slips behind Ary, stopping her music as the song lingers in the air, and touches Ary's back, a wash of blue energy running
21:02 <Torokasi> over him!
21:03 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow (32/37) > LBl1 (21/39) > Ary (48/58, shaken) > Ls3 > Rs3 > RBl1 (7/39) > Rm2 (blinded) > Ls4 > Janda > Rs4 > Lilian > Boss Aquamancer (25/???) = Hydrogon (24/???) > Mare = Solmyr > RAqua1
21:05 <Torokasi> The final small yeek barrels out of the adjoining room, charging straight at Ary and planting its trident straight through Ary's breastplate, before ripping it out as blood spurts out! Despite the flamboyance of the move, however, Ary seems only as disturbed as before, attempting to keep his cool against the opponents in frunt of him!
21:05 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow (32/37) > LBl1 (21/39) > Ary (32/58, shaken) > Ls3 > Rs3 > RBl1 (7/39) > Rm2 (blinded) > Ls4 > Janda > Rs4 > Lilian > Boss Aquamancer (25/???) = Hydrogon (24/???) > Mare = Solmyr > RAqua1
21:06 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow (32/37) > LBl1 (21/39) > Ary (37/58, shaken, DR 5/ada) > Ls3 > Rs3 > RBl1 (7/39) > Rm2 (blinded) > Ls4 > Janda > Rs4 > Lilian > Boss Aquamancer (25/???) = Hydrogon (24/???) > Mare = Solmyr > RAqua1
21:16 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow (32/37) > Ary (37/58, shaken, DR 5/ada) > Ls3 > Rs3 > RBl1 (7/39) > Rm2 (blinded) > Ls4 > Janda > Rs4 > Lilian > Boss Aquamancer (25/???) = Hydrogon (24/???) > Mare = Solmyr > RAqua1
21:17 <Torokasi> Lilian seems to hesitate, if just a moment, before bolting in to behind the larger yeek threatening Crow! "Don't even think about it!" she snarls as her bastard sword flashes up, and then across the giant beast in one smooth motion, the yeek unable to turn in time to defend its flank before being split apart! Lilian's face seems shocked for just a moment as the yeek falls, before she grins gleefully to Crow.
21:21 <Torokasi> Yillkilith scowls at the newest intrusion. "Human spirit? Pathetic. In such a short time, the Mist has already consumed countless 'human spirits'. Yours will just be next on the list!" With this, it points and howls, a beam of lightning-fast water spitting out of the air at Crow! OOC: Reflex save.
21:23 <AutumnCrow> (OOC: Ref 21 and I have Evasion)
21:29 <Torokasi> As the beam shoots out, Crow simply... steps aside, the beam shooting past and burrowing a hole in the wall as if it were mud! Meanwhile, the dragon above his head hisses, Yillkilith stepping into the doorway - and then the dragon spews boiling hot water at Lilian and Crow! OOC: Ref save again.
21:29 <AutumnCrow> (OOC: Ref save 19, I still have Evasion)
21:31 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow (32/37) > Ary (37/58, shaken, DR 5/ada) > Ls3 > Rs3 > RBl1 (7/39) > Rm2 (blinded) > Ls4 (6/28) > Janda > Rs4 > Lilian (19/30) > Boss Aquamancer (25/???) = Hydrogon (24/???) > Mare = Solmyr > RAqua1
21:32 <Torokasi> The boiling breath is easily dodged by Crow, and Lilian avoids the worst of it by putting her blade in front of it, but the hapless yeek warrior caught in the middle takes the full brunt, screaming as its flesh boils alongside the water!
21:34 <AutumnCrow> "Well human spirit seems to be doing just fine against the mist right now. Do we need to pause the fight so you can go ask the mist to give you more power?" Crow asks as she steps aside from the water blasts, and then eyes the poor yeek who got boiled, "...or perhaps some better aim?"
21:36 <Torokasi> Mare's hands glow with the sickly grey light again, before she shoots another ray at the still surviving large warrior! It attempts to keep standing, but Mare seems to push slightly on the ray, and finally its knees give out as it collapses against the energy! Yillkilith snarls at Crow's comment and at another warrior falling, "We are hardly the Mist - simply its meager servants, fool. It is greater than even your wildest comprehension!"
21:36 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow (32/37) > Ary (37/58, shaken, DR 5/ada) > Ls3 > Rs3 > Rm2 (blinded) > Ls4 (6/28) > Janda > Rs4 > Lilian (19/30) > Boss Aquamancer (25/???) = Hydrogon (24/???) > Mare = Solmyr > RAqua1
21:39 <Torokasi> Another three points of electric force appear in front of Solmyr as he glares at Yillkilith, but ultimately he aims at the yeek that previously demonstrated its thoughtform trident skill!
21:39 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow (32/37) > Ary (37/58, shaken, DR 5/ada) > Ls3 > Rs3 (12/28) > Rm2 (blinded) > Ls4 (6/28) > Janda > Rs4 > Lilian (19/30) > Boss Aquamancer (25/???) = Hydrogon (24/???) > Mare = Solmyr > RAqua1
21:40 <Torokasi> The three bolts slam through the psionic armor, setting its hair on end and causing it to screech in pain! OOC: Top of the round, no reinforcements readied. Para.
21:41 <Torokasi> OOC: Strike
21:43 <Torokasi>  The three bolts slam through the psionic armor, setting its hair on end and causing it to screech in pain! The aquamancer at Ary's door finally steps in, appraising the situation...  before a sphere of roiling water appears next to it, suddenly spinning out and curving around Ary to slam into Janda - except Janda's already jumped back and away from the ball of water, grinning slightly at having outwitted the aquamancer! OOC: Para.
21:46 <AutumnCrow> Attacking the healer is one of those things that makes you priority target number 1 to Para. Adjusting his aim, he lets loose a pair of arrows at the new aquamancer. (OOC: Rapid shot! Attack 1, 20 to hit, 13 damage. Attack 2, 15 to hit, 14 damage if that hits)
21:47 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow (32/37) > Ary (37/58, shaken, DR 5/ada) > Ls3 > Rs3 (12/28) > Rm2 (blinded) > Ls4 (6/28) > Janda > Rs4 > Lilian (19/30) > Boss Aquamancer (25/???) = Hydrogon (24/???) > Mare = Solmyr > RAqua1 (11/24)
21:47 <Torokasi> The first arrow sinks directly into the aquamancer's side, causing it to buckle - which makes the second arrow simply give the aquamancer a close haircut, Para cursing under his breath. OOC: Crow.
21:53 <AutumnCrow> Letting her scarf slip to the floor, Crow draws her second fan and enters a rapid frenzy of attacks against the Auditor, "at least you got the meager part right." (OOC: Swap back into Summer Blood in the WAter stance, my AC goes down to 21 and I get +1 to hit. Flurry of Blows, using a Fiery Fists for the bonus damage. Attack 1: 17 to hit, Attack 2: 21 to hit, damage 7 +5 fire, Attack 3: 23
21:53 <AutumnCrow> to hit, damage 7 +3 fire)
21:56 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow (32/37) > Ary (37/58, shaken, DR 5/ada) > Ls3 > Rs3 (12/28) > Rm2 (blinded) > Ls4 (6/28) > Janda > Rs4 > Lilian (19/30) > Boss Aquamancer (36/???) = Hydrogon (35/???) > Mare = Solmyr > RAqua1 (11/24)
21:57 <Torokasi> Yillkilith stumbles back against the barrage, the cuts oozing blood faster as the dragon above him seems to shimmer and shake, rapidly losing cohesion! But he seems to still be holding it together for now...! OOC: Ary. If he's willing to get AoO'd he can charge... basically anyone except the Auditor, but the only target within easy reach is the small warrior that crit him.
22:01 <AutumnCrow> Ary lunges forward towards the warrior that hit him, eager to secure the kill and get his side of teh room under control. (OOC: Yeah he'll charge that one. 2 into PA. Attack....13. Or not)
22:01 <AutumnCrow> (OOC: Also he no longer has DR.)
22:02 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow (32/37) > Ary (37/58, shaken) > Ls3 > Rs3 (12/28) > Rm2 (blinded) > Ls4 (6/28) > Janda > Rs4 > Lilian (19/30) > Boss Aquamancer (36/???) = Hydrogon (35/???) > Mare = Solmyr > RAqua1 (11/24)
22:05 <Torokasi> The yeek, however, easily sidesteps Ary's shaky swing! The yeek near Crow and Lilian looks between the two, before attempting to harass Crow again - but its thrust doesn't even get close enough for Crow to need to dodge it, the yeek's nerves failing it at the last moment.
22:06 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow (32/37) > Ary (33/58, shaken) > Ls3 > Rs3 (12/28) > Rm2 (blinded) > Ls4 (6/28) > Janda > Rs4 > Lilian (19/30) > Boss Aquamancer (36/???) = Hydrogon (35/???) > Mare = Solmyr > RAqua1 (11/24)
22:07 <Torokasi> Meanwhile, one of the small yeeks moves next to Ary, attempting to stab him - but only nicking his wrist with a weak blow! The blinded yeek stumbles out of the room, while the boiled yeek flails at Crow - but not getting close enough to hit, either!
22:07 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow (32/37) > Ary (33/58, shaken) > Ls3 > Rs3 (12/28)  > Ls4 (6/28) > Janda > Rs4 > Lilian (19/30) > Boss Aquamancer (36/???) = Hydrogon (35/???) > Mare = Solmyr > RAqua1 (11/24)
22:10 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow (32/37) > Ary (22/58, shaken) > Ls3 > Rs3 (12/28)  > Ls4 (6/28) > Janda > Rs4 > Lilian > Boss Aquamancer (36/???) = Hydrogon (35/???) > Mare = Solmyr > RAqua1 (11/24)
22:10 <Torokasi> Janda quickly pivots and jumps to Lilian's shoulder, tapping her to mend the worst of the blisters from the boiling breath - almost as if Lilian was never touched! Meanwhile, Ary's second foe leaps at him again, driving his trident through the breastplate again, more blood gushing out as Ary stumbles back in pain!
22:13 <Torokasi> Lilian scowls at the Auditor, approaching it with her blade in her right hand. The Auditor turns to deflect the blow - except the blade flashes in from Lilian's left hand, scoring another small wound across the Auditor's face! <More>
22:14 <Torokasi> The Auditor's face winces - and the dragon screams, a long, painful rattle, as it dissolves away above him!
22:15 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow (32/37) > Ary (22/58, shaken) > Ls3 > Rs3 (12/28)  > Ls4 (6/28) > Janda > Rs4 > Lilian > Boss Aquamancer (40/???) > Mare = Solmyr > RAqua1 (11/24)
22:17 <Torokasi> The Auditor's breath is ragged as it eyes Crow, then Lilian, then Janda and the rest, before it raises its hands, each word spat out with venom, a maelstrom of water surging out from above its head and catching Lilian, Crow, Janda, and Ary alongside its allies in the blast! OOC: Fort save.
22:18 <AutumnCrow> (OOC: Ary save 19, Crow save also 19)
22:19 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow (24/37) > Ary (16/58, shaken) > Ls3 (11/28) > Rs3 (12/28)  >Janda (23/31) > Rs4 > Lilian (22/30) > Boss Aquamancer (40/???) > Mare = Solmyr > RAqua1 (11/24)
22:21 <Torokasi> The whipping waves of water scour over the battlefield, Crow and allies all enduring the worst of the aquatic assault - but the yeek's allies aren't so lucky, the boiled yeek lashed apart and the uninjured one brutally scarred! With this, the Auditor... turns and flees down the stairwell!
22:21 — AutumnCrow snaps out a fan at him as he runs(OOC: I absolutely get an AoO, i was adjacent to him)
22:22 <AutumnCrow> (OOC: Attack roll 23 thank you dice, damage 7 + 6 fire)
22:25 <Torokasi> The Auditor screams, a curdling yell, as Crow's fan rips through his guard - but it's still pushing itself down the stairwell in a panic! Or so Crow thinks, before its legs tangle, and it collapses down the stairs, sickening thud after sickening thud as it falls.
22:28 <AutumnCrow> "If the rest of you yeeks would like to flee, swear you will not return and I will let you go." Crow states flatly as she stands up from her swing, keeping an eye on the fallen Auditor.
22:29 <Torokasi> The yeeks give no reply save a nearly-universal snarl... though Crow does see the blinded yeek stumbling for the stairs in a panic, and on Crow's words starts screaming "Mercy! Mercy!" as it flees.
22:32 <Torokasi> Mare and Solmyr pause just long enough to confirm that the yeeks intend to fight on, before Mare blasts the aggressive yeek soldier on Ary, causing it to begin shivering with fear! Meanwhile, Solmyr's electric bullets slam into the injured yeek on Ary, finishing it off!
22:32 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow (24/37) > Ary (16/58, shaken) > Ls3 (11/28) > Janda (23/31) > Rs4 (15/28, shaken) > Lilian (22/30) > Boss Aquamancer (40/???) > Mare = Solmyr > RAqua1 (11/24)
22:33 <Torokasi> The aquamancer near Ary, sensing something resembling an opportunity, reforms the water ball from behind him and attempts to slam Ary with it! OOC: Reflex for Ary.
22:33 <AutumnCrow> (OOC: That's a 13 with the Shaken penalty)
22:33 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow (24/37) > Ary (8/58, shaken) > Ls3 (11/28) > Janda (23/31) > Rs4 (15/28, shaken) > Lilian (22/30) > Boss Aquamancer (40/???) > Mare = Solmyr > RAqua1 (11/24)
22:34 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow (24/37) > Ary (8/58, shaken) > Ls3 (11/28) > Janda (23/31) > Rs4 (15/28, shaken) > Lilian (22/30) >  Mare = Solmyr > RAqua1 (11/24)
22:34 <Torokasi> Ary cries out as the water slams into his back forcefully, blood leaking from the back of his armor!  OOC: Para. This is mostly cleanup, now, thankfully.
22:36 <AutumnCrow> Para takes aim and keeps firing at the aquamancer, intent on taking it down before it can do that again. (OOC: Rapid Shot, attack 1 11 to hit, attack 2 26 to hit, 12 damage)
22:39 <Torokasi> The aquamancer manages to deflect one arrow with a lash of water - but the second one pierces its heart, sending it down with ease! OOC: Crow. Ls3 is the one near you, Rs4 is the one near Ary.
22:39 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow (24/37) > Ary (8/58, shaken) > Ls3 (11/28) > Janda (23/31) > Rs4 (15/28, shaken) > Lilian (22/30) >  Mare = Solmyr
22:41 — AutumnCrow steps in on the yeek near her, slashing in a rapid frenzy with her dual fans! (OOC: Flurry of Blows~ Attack 1 18, 8 damage, Attack 2 19, 8 damage, Attack 3 10 to hit, whiff)
22:42 <Torokasi> The yeek falls to pieces against Crow's strikes with relative ease! OOC: Ary's up.
22:43 Torokasi set the topic: Para > Crow (24/37) > Ary (8/58, shaken) > Janda (23/31) > Rs4 (15/28, shaken) > Lilian (22/30) >  Mare = Solmyr
22:44 <AutumnCrow> Being very hurt, Ary will cautiously withdraw towards Para, shouting at the archer to keep shooting! (OOC: Withdraw(full round action) to avoid the AoO, then once within 10ft of Para use a swift action to use White Raven tactics to give Para a second turn right after Ary. Para will promptly use Rapid Shot on the remaining yeek)
22:45 <Torokasi> OOC: Works, Para's up!
22:45 Torokasi set the topic: Crow (24/37) > Ary (8/58, shaken) > Para > Janda (23/31) > Rs4 (15/28, shaken) > Lilian (22/30) >  Mare = Solmyr
22:45 <AutumnCrow> (OOC: Rapid Shot! Attack 1 19 to hit, 14 damage, Attack 2 21 to hit, 14 damage)
22:47 <Torokasi> Almost as if rehearsed, Para spins on his heel and launches two arrows at the remaining threat! The first one skewers the shoulder, but the second one nails the yeek in the stomach, finishing it off. OOC: Free act, fight over.
22:49 <AutumnCrow> "Someone should probably go make sure that auditor is actually dead." Crow sighs as she puts her fans away and picks her scarf up, "...Para can you handle that? Janda, heal up Ary and we can get started getting these bodies out of here. I don't think the mist is thick enough to just dissolve them yet."
22:50 <Torokasi> Para sprints by Crow on command, while Janda tends to Ary and Lilian and Solmyr begin moving bodies toward the stairwell...
22:50 <Torokasi> --------------------------------------------------------------

Taishyr

Torokasi> Qila coughs behind the group as they begin the clean-up. "That... would not have been winnable by my own hand. Madach sent warriors to demonstrate I have much to learn, I feel."
16:29 <Torokasi> "Forgive my ignorance..." Janda murmurs as she looks over from healing Ary. "But... what domains does Madach teach?"
16:30 <AutumnCrow> "I'm going to bet the same ones we attribute to Madganae," Crow ventures a guess as she cleans herself up from the battle.
16:30 <Torokasi> Qila shakes her head. "War. Conquest. Storms. Domination and peace through control." Then, tilting her head to Crow, "Madganae?"
16:31 <AutumnCrow> "Hmm...close, but not quite it seems. And I'll let one of you explain that."
16:34 <Torokasi> "Magdanae is the name of the goddess we attribute storms, love, hatred, and defiance to. So... as Crow said, close - mayhaps siblings?" Janda ventures, tilting her head. "I'd ask Solmyr, but he's occupied... Still. A curious thing, indeed. Perhaps they are simply different aspects."
16:34 <Torokasi> "Perhaps. Ah, and you are a cleric of...?" Qila asks, face slightly flushed. "I have heard your calls but don't recognize the prayers or the language."
16:36 <Torokasi> "The Weeping Lady. Water, healing and suffering through recovery, community, and purity." Janda recites with pride in her voice, before, "Though I am not a priest or cleric, simply a shugenja - one trained in elemental arts in service to a deity."
16:37 <Torokasi> Qila's face is blank for a moment longer, before, "... I can't say I know of a god or goddess that matches that portfolio at all. Nature spirits usually are what is called upon for water, and the rest are... scattered. I'm sorry I can't place it."
16:38 <Torokasi> Janda shakes her head. "Your god hears you. Mine hears me, even here, so there's probably no contradiction. I think. I don't know how any of this works, so..."
16:38 <AutumnCrow> "We don't have an actual cleric in our party, though Lillian is a templar," Crow notes, "I think our gods are simply too far apart, we were teleported here after all."
16:38 <Torokasi> Ary grunts. " 'I don't know how any of this works' is my line at this point as well, I think."
16:39 <AutumnCrow> "This is some kind of deep mist shenanigans," Crow shrugs, "nobody knows how this works."
16:39 <Torokasi> Lilian nods slightly to Crow and Qila. "...Unrelatedly, we should consider next steps. Do they usually attack more than once a day?"
16:40 <Torokasi> Qila shakes her head. "It's usually a day or two between their attacks. We should be safe now, and if the rains come soon and help with this fog, hopefully someone will come back for us."
16:44 <AutumnCrow> "You keep calling it 'this fog'. Like you're not used to it...I think Janda may need to fill you all in about the mist."
16:50 <Torokasi> "We aren't." Qila shakes her head. "If it is more than mere weather, even Madach has not told us. There were strange reports from the northeast of... something. All I know is that the head of the Temple went northeast to address it, while I came here to help as a guard. And then the fog rolled in from the northeast."
16:53 <AutumnCrow> "It's quite a lot more than mere weather," Crow finishes her clean up and looks over to Janda, "why don't you head upstairs and give them the beginner course on what to expect from it, being educated by the Weeping Lady's temple you'd know the most of us on this subject."
16:53 <Torokasi> "...The Mist, as we understand it today, is an entity across the entire land, its grip lessened only by the rains. It bears a malevolent will towards all Talmen- yes, that's probably wise." Janda nods, patting Ary on the back as she heads upstairs with Qila.
16:56 <AutumnCrow> Once Janda and Qila were upstairs, Crow sighs, "we need to find a way back out of this, but I'm not sure what we can do about it since I'm not sure how we got here in the first place. The issue is that I am increasingly convinced we were not taken away somewhere so much as we were taken away somewhen."
16:57 — AutumnCrow looks over to see if Lilian or Mare were having the same lines of thought
17:02 <Torokasi> Lilian shrugs, as does Ary. Mare... doesn't seem to be paying attention at first, but after a moment she glances to Para. "Body of water with a tower built in it doesn't match any areas I know of, but it wouldn't have to under two conditions - if we were far enough away to be out of my knowledge base, or if we were in a time that it was feasible. The question is, do any of the cities we know have a body of water close by that could ma-"
17:04 <Torokasi> "Istory." Para mumbles. "Large, shallow body of water. Possibly was lower, or will be lower."
17:05 <Torokasi> "Then this tower might have been near our time's Istory, before the Cataclysm." Mare nods slightly. "I know they don't keep outposts in the lake anymore - the Barrier wouldn't cover them - but..."
17:06 <AutumnCrow> "With the cataclysm having changed the wheres of just about everything, getting bearings is a bit awkward." Crow sighs, "but if this is near Istory and this is in the past at the outbreak of the Mist, that could fit neatly."
17:07 <Torokasi> "...We're in the past, I think." Para then says. "Buildings are in an old style. OId like the Cellars back home. No beams, plain, but nearly seamless stone. Not bricks, not rocks, but smooth like iron."
17:08 <Torokasi> Ary blinks, looking around. "...Yeah, Para's right. Teriander has some buildings like this too, but they're all the sort that no one knows how old they actually are, people just repair them with magic and move on."
17:09 <Torokasi> Mare nods. "Near Istory, in the past, at the outbreak of the Mist. ......I don't suppose anyone has experience with temporal magics, here."
17:09 <Torokasi> Lilian shakes her head. "We'd best ask Solmyr once he gets back up here-"
17:10 <AutumnCrow> "I don't think there's any magic which has the power to truely take us through time, I think this is some manner of...hmm...well, similar to the Scene in the dream space, like that one castle I was at. There should be some trigger to getting us out of here, but how to find it besides just waiting it out is the problem."
17:13 <Torokasi> "Back." Solmyr mutters, nodding to Crow. "Agreed. I was thinking it through and there likely has to be. I think it's tied to the th- well, looks like four upstairs, Qila went back up? Anyway, it's got something to do with them. ...Why the Mist wants us involved with them is a question I'd rather not ponder right now."
17:14 <AutumnCrow> "I didn't want to talk about us being from the future with her here," Crow notes flatly.
17:15 <Torokasi> "That makes total sense." Solmyr nods.  "It may just be the Mist wanted us to... see this? So it may just be waiting it out, or... something."
17:19 <Torokasi> "...how long?" Lilian shakes her head. "I don't like that idea. I take it you didn't see anything new below, though."
17:19 <AutumnCrow> "Possible, though I'm not quite sure it's the will of the Mist itself that did this, it's hardly the only absurdly powerful and mysterious entity that we're potentially mixed up with after all," Crow of course counted all the gods as that same level of entity.
17:19 <Torokasi> Solmyr shakes his head, before glancing to Crow. "The Deceiver you're dealing with, then?"
17:22 <AutumnCrow> "Or one of the gods, or whatever entity the Deceiver serves," Crow shrugs, "it's not a small list. I'll grant I have no idea what or who is responsible, simply that I don't think it serves a purpose to assume it was the will of the Mist and wonder how we are or aren't playing into its hands."
17:23 <Torokasi> "Point enough." Solmyr nods, before, "Wait. No. Fair enough. Point. Whatever."
17:45 <Torokasi> Lilian bows her head before a moment, before, "Let me... try praying and collecting my thoughts. We should ask Janda to do the same. If this is the path a deity desired us to take, then maybe we can find something in prayer... though neither of us are terribly knowledgeable on divinations. Making me one of the few followers of Erest Rosen not versed in them."
18:19 <AutumnCrow> "Well, you're a beguiler not an oracle." Crow smiles, "go ahead and do that, then we'll go back up and regroup. Janda should be done explaining the mist by then."
18:22 <Torokasi> Lilian nods slightly and goes to sit over by the window as Ary glances to Crow.  "Should someone go check to see they're still on that and haven't moved on to talk about anything and everything else?"\
18:23 <AutumnCrow> "May as well," Crow nods and then heads upstairs.
18:27 <Torokasi> Crow heads up, noticing after a second that Para is following her, though he seems to be content to look around. At the top door, Crow looks in to see Janda in mid-soliloquy to Oyle and Qila, with Khism nodding along. "...so we've observed the Mist having those effects. And you're saying none of the cities have set up Barriers around here?"
18:27 <Torokasi> Oyle looks... solemn, calm almost. "No, ma'am. The damn fools must not have heard about any of this."
18:28 <Torokasi> "It's possible that it's only now reaching any of you." Janda shakes her head. "So there may still be ti- oh, hi, Crow. I think I'm done with that part of the explanation."
18:30 <AutumnCrow> "Janda, if you're about done, Lilian is trying the 'pray and see if the gods reveal anything' route downstairs, Ary may or may not be trying as well," Crow nods as she is addressed, "though you're not a cleric, you still serve a deity fairly similar to one, want to go try your hand at it as well? At this point we're grasping at any straws we can for clues to how or why we got here, so we can
18:30 <AutumnCrow> figure out how to get back."
18:32 <Torokasi> "Makes sense. Uh, Qila, if you could ask Madach as well, I'm sure we'd all appreciate it. He may also have insight as to what's going on." Janda chirps. "Rest up, you three. We'll come back in a bit." With that, Janda nods and walks to Crow. "Let's leave them be for a bit. I think they're ... well, pretty tired."
18:33 <AutumnCrow> "Of course," Crow nods and follows her back downstairs.
18:34 <Torokasi> On the steps, Janda looks to Crow. "I wouldn't be surprised if Madach, whoever he- or, well, she, maybe - is, if they were the ones that called us. Qila admitted she'd been desperate... Apparently there were three guards, but two died in the last assault. Qila finished the fight herself..."
18:36 <AutumnCrow> "Hmm. Well, I suppose that's possible."
18:37 <Torokasi> "Do you think that it was something else? I can't see this having been the Mist, I really can't." Janda shakes her head. "Regardless, if we've helped warn some far-off land of the dangers of the Mist, we've done a great service - and it makes finding a way to stop it more important that ever, if it's still spreading!"
18:39 <AutumnCrow> "I don't think we're in a far off land," Crow calmly, and quietly, notes, "compose yourself because I don't want a surprised shout here, but..." she pauses a moment to allow Janda to do just that, "right now the consensus is that we're somehow temporarily in the past, at the first appearance of the mist. Sorry to exclude you from that conversation, but I needed an excuse to get Qila out of
18:39 <AutumnCrow> the room, and they did need to learn the dangers of the mist anyway."
18:41 <Torokasi> Janda's face seems surprised, but after a moment she nods. "That makes sense. Thank you for filling me in, Crow! But... the past? Then..." She lapses deep into thought as they go down the stairs.
18:45 <Torokasi> "... Actually, I'm going to ask Solmyr a favor." Janda says after a moment. "I'd ask Ary, but- no, wait, Mare, Mare's the better choice. Maybe both of them?"
18:45 <AutumnCrow> "Why not just ask everyone?"
18:47 <Torokasi> "Well, I mean - that's a point, yes. But if we're in the past, and when you say we are? We can learn more about the Mist - about the past! I'm almost too excited... I had been treating this as if they were from some far-off land, but if they're from our own past we may be able to get our hands on information we couldn'tve dreamt of!" Janda babbles, before, "Yes, I should ask anyone who's interested, you're right. That's going to be a
18:47 <Torokasi> long conversation, though, I'm sure."
18:50 <AutumnCrow> "I'm not sure what kind of information they could have that would be of any use, but I'm not the academic of the group."
18:50 <Torokasi> "That's why I was thinking Mare and Solmyr. I don't know that I could ask much myself!"
18:50 <Torokasi> Para notes quietly, "Maps."
18:51 <AutumnCrow> "And that would be why I said everyone," Crow smirks.
18:51 <Torokasi> Janda flushes a bit. "Right. Sorry I didn't include you, Para."
18:51 <Torokasi> "I don't want to talk. I just want a map." Para grins.
18:52 <AutumnCrow> "Para's getting better about including himself, at least."
18:53 <Torokasi> "Trying. It's hard." Para nods. "But... getting easier." The three make it down to the stairs, where Lilian is sitting still, a cross look on her face. Ary seems to have his eyes closed as well, leaning with his back to the wall, while Solmyr and Mare chat quietly in the corner.
18:58 <Torokasi> Janda goes over to Solmyr and Mare and begins explaining, and after a moment, Lilian stands up, shaking her head in annoyance, before walking over to Crow. "Nothing on my end. Janda not trying, or something come up?"
19:05 — AutumnCrow slips an arm around Lilian, "she's gotten some interest in learning about the past once I filled her in on what we suspect is going on here."
19:07 <Torokasi> "...ah, so talking with people to try and figure out what to ask. Makes sense." Lilian nods, her mood seeming to clear up a bit. "I have a few questions, but I dunno if my head's at the point where I could make the questions make sense. Hopefully they can figure some stuff out. ...probably should leave it to a few people so they're not overwhelmed, I feel like? This must have been hard for all of them."
19:11 <AutumnCrow> "Probably. Meanwhile I'm wrestling with the question of whether we should attempt to leave the tower or not. It could be the trigger that sends us back where we belong, or it could leave us...stranded here. Or worse, even." Crow sighs, turning a lopsided half-annoyed smile at Lilian, "honestly I dislike dealing with magical problems that I don't understand even on a small scale like those
19:11 <AutumnCrow> mephit summoners. Something like this is...I have no idea where to even begin trying to solve it and I do not deal well with feeling helpless."
19:12 <Torokasi> Lilian smiles sympathetically. "We're in the same boat, there. This entire thing has me in a really bad mood, not in the least because my instincts aren't helping out at all. At the least, though, we should ask our questions - what we can think of - before we leave."
19:15 <AutumnCrow> "I suppose there's reasons we get along so well," this time Crow manages an actual smile before letting go of Lilian's waist and stretching, "I do know one thing I could try, but I'm loathe to do it. I really feel like I don't want to be asleep when something happens here."
19:15 <Torokasi> Solmyr and Mare walk over at this point, Janda smiling briefly at Crow and Lilian before heading to sit where Lilian had been. Mare brushes her mane a bit before, "Janda explained what she wanted. I'm willing to help write down questions for anyone that doesn't want to take part in the conversation, or if they just have one or two ideas."
19:16 <Torokasi> "And I don't know how good of an idea this is." Solmyr comments wryly. "But I might be outvoted, so."
19:19 <AutumnCrow> "You may well be right, this could just as easily be some kind of...memory of the past that we're all experiencing instead of actually being there, I'm not sure how much anything we learn here can actually be trusted." Crow grumbles, snapping out a jab at thin air as she completes her stretches, "there's too many things this could be and nobody to demand answers from. I certainly don't have
19:19 <AutumnCrow> any better ideas."
19:23 <Torokasi> "...I mean, there's that, too." Solmyr nods. "But there's also the issue of, if we're actually in the past, what impact are we having from being here? There's a lot of magical debate about it, but the problem is - since almost all the magic is theoretical - we don't have any guidance. In addition, outside of Qila, we're dealing with three civilians here. I dunno how much you talk to random people in the street, but there's those that
19:23 <Torokasi> think the Weeping Lady is the actual statue, or that Sath is literally -in- the temple, just, like, behind the right floorboard or something."
19:24 <Torokasi> "But Qila has her head on straight, and Oyle seems... not stupid - he knows about some magic of some form, from what he said." Mare notes smoothly. "And Khism may be able to provide some written answers. And we have no temporal guidance so we might as well try things, yes?"
19:28 <Torokasi> "I mean, it's not like I can stop you." Solmyr shrugs. "Just keep the thoughts in your heads, I guess?"
19:31 <AutumnCrow> "...do people really think those things?" Crow stares at Solmyr, "...really?"
19:32 <Torokasi> Ary opens his eyes at this point. "We wait, I think. ...I'm not sure on that, but apparently this will be past by the morning. ...Lilian, what's it feel like when you actually feel like you're in touch with Erest Rosen?"
19:33 <Torokasi> Solmyr glances to Crow, amused annoyance in his eyes. "Yes, Crow. Sadly, some do."
19:34 <Torokasi> Lilian glances to Ary with annoyance of her own. "...Usually like a feeling of desire and clarity, like I know what I want and what to do to get it. Why?"
19:35 <Torokasi> Ary shrugs. "It... isn't something I normally can do at all, but I feel like I did get an answer from Sath, and... the sentiment was something like 'hold your ground, at light break camp'? Like, not even in that many words. And I can't even say for sure it wasn't just me?"
19:37 <AutumnCrow> "Well it's more than I'd get from anything," Crow chuckles.
19:40 <Torokasi> "Better than I got, too." Lilian shrugs. "I can deal with 'camp here like you originally planned', but more advance warning woulda been nice."
19:46 <Torokasi> "Okay. Let's set up camp, then, and once Mare and I - I guess, and whoever else wants to, like Janda - knows what we want to ask, we can go do that while everyone else relaxes for the night?" Solmyr replies after a moment. "Or do we wait on setting up camp for Janda to finish?"
19:48 <AutumnCrow> "Those of us who don't have questions can set up camp while you all finish that. I'll pull out the hotstone and get some food started."
19:53 <Torokasi> "That sounds good." Solmyr nods, as the group goes to set up... OOC: One moment, rolling some stuff. Crow can't think of anything she wants to ask, right?
19:57 <AutumnCrow> OOC: yup
20:01 <Torokasi> Crow gets to work on cooking, while Lilian helps with the camp setup, clearly still annoyed. After a bit, Janda and Mare head upstairs, while Solmyr and Ary come help Lilian with the setup. It doesn't take long for everything to be ready as Crow cooks, Lilian eventually coming to sit near the fire, hand through her hair in exhaustion.
20:06 <Torokasi> "...so, what are you making? It smells delicious as always." Lilian comments after a moment, glancing to Crow.
20:11 <AutumnCrow> "Rabbit with root vegitables," Crow stirs the finely chopped vegitable mix on one half of the pan, then turns the rabbit strips on the other, "with a honey vinegar dressing to go on once it's all finished. With the flatbread to serve it on, of course. All pretty basic stuff, just put together the right way."
20:12 <AutumnCrow> Looking over at Lilian, Crow ventures the question, "...so how are you holding up here? It's pretty maddening."
20:13 <Torokasi> "...Getting maddened, to be honest." Lilian grins a bit desperately. "It's... not that I'm not curious, not that I don't have like a million questions, but I feel like there's too much and I don't know where to even start, and then there's the whole 'being trapped in this place until the Mist clears or we snap the escape rod'... and who knows if the latter would even work."
20:17 <AutumnCrow> "I'm betting no, to be honest. Or...it might and we wouldn't like what happened along with it."
20:19 <Torokasi> "That's my fear, but part of me wants to know that, to confirm that! But we can't test it for a million of reasons." Lilian moans. "I don't know. I'm glad everyone else could think of questions to ask, at least."
20:24 <Torokasi> "... This being said, I think we continue on to Uhlemi after this. Not sure what you were thinking, but if this does just break tomorrow, today was just cut short by rain in effect." Lilian says after a moment's silence. "We aren't burning any more resources than expected here."
20:25 <AutumnCrow> "I can understand that. I...really can't think of anything to ask simply because to me, there's nothing they could tell us that's relevent. They don't know how to get back to where we came from, and that's all I care about right now."
20:25 <Torokasi> Lilian nods slightly. "That makes sense, too."
20:28 <AutumnCrow> "We continue on as planned...unless somehow we take them back with us, then we return to the city." Crow nods.
20:29 <Torokasi> "...Good point." Lilian nods slightly. "Qila may not slow us down, but Ary can't sit on both men at once."
20:33 <Torokasi> Eventually, Mare and Janda come back down as well, the group conversing loosely on their return as Mare holds a sheath of papers with a lot of writing on it. Janda smiles a bit sadly as they both sit down, "Tempet's mental condition seems to be deteriorating - we didn't get as long as we hoped before he got agitated. Seems Oyle was, well, to be his father-in-law, from what I gathered, and he's trying to keep Tempet well enough to receive
20:33 <Torokasi> healing back in town."
20:35 <Torokasi> "I feel like we got enough." Mare comments, looking through the papers. "I'll let you all look through it as you want, of course, but... it's an interesting picture, regardless of what the actual situation is."
20:36 <AutumnCrow> "It will be something to look through while we're resting at Uhlemi at least," Crow nods.
20:37 <Torokasi> "Indeed." Mare nods. "Khism drew a map, too - a basic one, but apparently she knows some about geography. Qila just sort of looked at me like I was daft."
20:40 <Torokasi> The group continues to chat as the night goes on... OOC: Anything you want to talk to the group about before sleep?
20:42 <AutumnCrow> OOC: not really at this point
20:42 <Torokasi> OOC: Alright. Is Crow going to try and enter the Dream or not?
20:45 <AutumnCrow> OOC: with the curse still going? Absolutely not.
20:45 <Torokasi> OOC: Okay. Will save, then.
20:45 <AutumnCrow> OOC: 25
20:47 <Torokasi> The night passes peacefully for Crow, no taint or dark energy creeping into a dreamless slumber. It's Lilian waking Crow up for her shift - the last one of the night - that ends the dream, but Lilian's hand feels a bit forceful. "Crow. Wake up, please."
20:49 — AutumnCrow blinks awake, "what's wrong?" She sits up quickly willing the sleepiness out of her mind since Lilian's shaking seemed urgent.
20:50 <Torokasi> "Para is saying it looks like we're back home." Lilian whispers. "He wants to check and see if Qila and company are still upstairs. We don't know when the transition happened - he doesn't think it was like this when we started the shift."
20:52 <AutumnCrow> "Alright, lets go check." Crow scoots out of the sleeping bag and looks around to see if the room looks ancient and wrecked like it did when they first got there, or if it looks like it did when they were with Qila and company.
20:54 <Torokasi> The room... looks different than either time. There's no blood on any of the surfaces, but the wrecked furniture is not present either, it seems. Para is standing right at the door to the way up, peering upward as Lilian lets Crow get up. "You two go. I'll keep watch down here and explain if anyone wakes up." Lilian whispers. "I didn't want to let Para go alone, but I didn't want to leave everyone else sleeping unprotected."
20:55 <AutumnCrow> "That was the right call, and between Para and I we can handle the large majority of threats." Grabbing her fans and tucking them into her belt, Crow nods to Para, "lead the way up."
20:57 <Torokasi> Para nods silently and ascends the staircase, Crow right behind him! At the top, the large door is securely in place, the room closed. Para glances to Crow as if to ask permission to open it. No light seems to be escaping from underneath the doorwell.
20:58 — AutumnCrow nods to him.
20:58 — AutumnCrow braces herself for Very Old Skeletal Remains.
21:01 <Torokasi> Para pushes the door open, it squeaking loudly as it swings in. Inside is... nothing. No beds like the ones Tempet was using, no furniture, nothing but dust to Crow's eyes. Para advances into the room a bit, before moving to crouch near the other end. "...Weird. There's something written on this wall."
21:02 — AutumnCrow goes over to look!
21:03 <Torokasi> It looks like it was burnt into the stone, somehow, though only a fraction of an inch inward, and done with haste. The writing simply says, "Thanks. Qila"
21:04 <AutumnCrow> "I see."
21:05 <Torokasi> "I don't get it." Para mutters.
21:06 <AutumnCrow> "They woke up, we were gone, and Qila left a message for us."
21:07 <AutumnCrow> "It looks like you're right, we're back."
21:08 <Torokasi> "But they didn't come past us." Para shakes his head.  "But... ugh. Whatever."
21:11 <Torokasi> "Let's go back downstairs." He mutters after a moment. "I'm tired."
21:11 <AutumnCrow> "it sounds like my theory about it being in the past was right. We just...got brought back to where and when we came from in the night at some point, so to thier frame of referance the morning they woke up and we weren't there was who knows how long ago," Crow shrugs, "hardly the strangest thing we've seen happenin the mist."
21:12 <Torokasi> "Right." Para shakes his head. "Mist them leaving, I guess."
21:12 <AutumnCrow> "It is far too early for puns."
21:13 <Torokasi> "...Wasn't an intentional one. Blame Brother." Para shakes his head, grumbling as he heads back out the door.
21:16 <AutumnCrow> "Your brother outranks me, and we're taught to respect that in the Autumn Temple, so I'll blame you for picking up his bad habits instead," Crow deadpans, "I can blame him for things when we reach M3."
21:17 <Torokasi> "Okay." Para shrugs, though his mood seems lighter as they head back to the group. Lilian is still standing watch, and looks up as Para and Crow re-enter, her face blank. "Well?"
21:18 <AutumnCrow> "It's empty, aside from a thank you note that Qila left burned into the wall."
21:20 <Torokasi> "..." Lilian seems to sigh in relief. "Well, that's. Good? Confusing? Let's go with both."
21:20 <AutumnCrow> "This whole  thing has been confusing, why should the ending be any different?"
21:21 <Torokasi> "Look. I like my stories to end well, okay?" Lilian smirks, a bit strained.
21:24 <Torokasi> Para shakes his head. "At least we know they were in this tower. At some point. Let's hope we're..." At this, he pauses, before pulling out the compass and letting it spin. "...Same direction as it should be."
21:25 <AutumnCrow> "While we are able to choose the stories we read, we're not always so lucky to choose the ones we live through," Crow smiles at Lilian, "alright, I think it's safe enough to finish the night's sleep before we set out. If either of you two are too wired to go back to sleep, you can keep watch."
21:26 <Torokasi> Para shakes his head. "I need the sleep. Thank you."
21:26 <Torokasi> Lilian nods to this. "I can stay up, I think. Not really needing any more sleep right now, and my stomach's turning a bit just thinking about all this.
21:28 — AutumnCrow lays back down to rest, but does not go to sleep since she doesn't feel like fighting the pull into dreamworld again. If she's a little tired tomorrow, that's fine.
21:28 <Torokasi> Para lies down as Lilian sits next to Crow. "No dream issues?" she asks quietly.
21:32 <AutumnCrow> "I'm avoiding entering the dream, since I don't feel like dealing with the curse right now," Crow answers just as quietly, "I can feel it trying to pull me in, but I'm setting my will against it for now. But if I try to go back to sleep, I'll have to do it again, so I'm just going to rest without actually sleeping until morning I suppose."
21:32 <Torokasi> "...shit. Sorry." Lilian murmurs. "Would have woken Solmyr up if I had thought about that."
21:34 <AutumnCrow> "I am the leader, it is my job to deal with things like this," Crow shrugs, readjusting so she's resting her head on Lilian's lap, "sometimes that means I lose sleep."
21:35 <Torokasi> "No sense losing sleep you don't need to lose." Lilian replies, stroking Crow's hair. "...should I keep an eye out to try and rouse you if it looks like a bad dream?"
21:38 <AutumnCrow> "Only if I start getting really bad. I may have to fight in there and I wouldn't want to be shaken out mid conflict. But if I'm really thrashing or running a fever or something, go for it."
21:38 <Torokasi> "Understood." Lilian nods with a slight grin. "Hopefully it's as easy as you made it look back against your uncle."
21:39 <AutumnCrow> "I had help there, that world's Autumn Sparrow really was borderline possessing me."
21:41 <Torokasi> "Still." Lilian smiles. "Don't doubt yourself there, either."
21:42 <AutumnCrow> "So far simply assuming that whatever I think of first will work and doing it has served me well in the dream," Crow smirks, "no need to change that formula yet, I think."
21:43 <Torokasi> Lilian laughs. "That's fair enough."

Taishyr

Torokasi> The rest of the team awakens slowly, packing up camp and getting debriefed on the return from Crow and Lilian. Everyone seems to be in a relatively good mood as Para looks outside at the Mist to confirm their surroundings - everyone except Janda, who seems sluggish, yawning as she packs her bag and gets ready. After a moment of everyone looking at her, she glances around. "...I had a strange dream last night. Did anyone else?"
16:51 <AutumnCrow> "If you mean going back in time somehow to save a group from unusually aggressive water yeeks, then that wasn't a dream."
16:53 <Torokasi> "No, that was annoying reality. We have the notes. I was... in a temple, except it wasn't one. I don't know. It doesn't matter, I'm sure." Janda shakes her head slightly.  "Let's head out. You said it looks only a bit damp out, Para?"
16:53 <Torokasi> Para nods slightly. "Yep."
16:55 <Torokasi> Janda nods. "Let's go, then. We're not making time lingering here."
16:58 <AutumnCrow> "Para, you're on compass and pathfinding duty as usual, Mare bring up the rear today, I want good eyes on both sides. I'm not trusting anything after what we just went through," Crow shakes her own sleepiness away and gets ready to go.
17:05 <Torokasi> The group nods, Para leading the group down as Janda and Lilian stick near Crow in the center. The group exits the tower - a cleaned-out building with no wooden furniture left to rot, this time around - and step onto the soft ground outside the tower. Outside is... a small stone monument that wasn't there the night before - almost nothing more than a pile of smooth rocks stacked together. Nothing seems to be out of the ordinary about it, except
17:05 <Torokasi> that it wasn't there before.
17:06 <AutumnCrow> "...well...that's...interesting." Crow looks over the monument stones, "...this wasn't here when we got in yesterday, was it?"
17:09 <Torokasi> "...nope." Ary mutters, pacing around it. "...why the hell is this here?"
17:11 <AutumnCrow> "The obvious answer is because Qila and the others survived thanks to our intervention, while they didn't before." Crow's tone is flat, but not completely sure of herself, "...if anything about this could be called obvious, anyway."
17:12 <Torokasi> "...so did we go back in time or not?" Ary asks, his voice faltering.
17:12 <Torokasi> Janda shakes her head. "It's... not anything we can figure out right now. If there's nothing else about the monument, let's keep moving."
17:13 <AutumnCrow> "Lilian, you want to take a look over it to make sure there's nothing else about it?"
17:18 <Torokasi> Lilian nods and looks over the monument, walking around it twice before shaking her head. "As far as I can tell, nothing here, magical or otherwise. ...Let's keep an eye out for other changes, though, as we go."
17:19 <AutumnCrow> "Alright," Crow nods. "Then lets go ahead and see if we can find Uhlemi from here."
17:29 <Torokasi> The group sets off from the tower, as the Mist looms around them, the group heading to the edge of the forest and following it... to a dry riverbed about five feet deep and twenty feet wide. A little rain falls on the team as Para looks up and down the riverbed. "I don't see anything." he says after a moment.
17:33 <AutumnCrow> "Are we crossing this riverbed or walking down it?" Crow looks at Para and his compass for direction, "honestly I'm not too comfortable walking in the riverbed right now, with the possible threat of heavy rain."
17:33 <Torokasi> "Same." Lilian nods. "Do we have an alternative?"
17:35 <Torokasi> Para looks at the compass. "Think we can just follow. If it turns right we'll have to cross."
17:38 <Torokasi> Solmyr glances to Mare, then to Crow. "Can I keep an eye on the riverbed? Leaves Para and Mare in position, but I don't like walking next to this... Dunno why."
17:39 <AutumnCrow> "That's fine, you can take that side. I'd feel better with someone watching it anyway," Crow nods.
17:44 <Torokasi> Solmyr nods, as the group moves on, Solmyr glancing out over the riverbed constantly... before, about an hour later, stopping the team. "There's... someone on the other side. Could be a yeek or a kobold, or a Talmen. It's too hard to tell from here."
17:48 <AutumnCrow> "...well, lets go take a look then." Crow shrugs, then walks over towards the riverbed's edge and looks for whoever is there!
17:56 <Torokasi> The person or creature is a fair ways ahead on the riverbed, and seems to be standing, but as the group approaches, it doesn't seem to react. Crow can't tell from this distance what it even is through the Mist, and Solmyr and Para both seem uncertain as well.
17:58 — AutumnCrow takes her shiny spring scarf and waves it at whoever is there!
18:00 <Torokasi> The figure fails to react, before Para murmurs "...Is it alive?" It doesn't seem to be moving, at least.
18:00 <AutumnCrow> "Shall we cross and go say hello? Just make sure we're quick about it."
18:17 <Torokasi> "Give me a second." Lilian shakes her head, before, "We want it to know we're here, yes?"
18:18 <AutumnCrow> "Yes. If it's freindly, better to not sneak up, and if it's a kobold better to just provoke it into charging us."
18:23 <Torokasi> Lilian nods quietly, murmuring a spell under her breath, before glowing words appear in front of the figure, floating slowly around it - "Please look across the riverbank." The figure... doesn't seem to react, even after the words do a full rotation.
18:25 <AutumnCrow> "Well, could also be a corpse I suppose. ...that's standing for some reason. Or a bipedal rock formation." Crow shrugs, "well lets go take a look."
18:29 <Torokasi> The group nods and heads into the river bank, the ground soaking in the light rain. The incline in and out is shallow... OOC: Roll perception for Para?
18:30 <AutumnCrow> OOC: he'll burn 1pp to activate Elfsight to help see through the mist. Notice 22
18:31 <Torokasi> Para's back stiffens as the group gets to the middle of the river, before he shakes his head. "It twitches. ...A tail?"
18:33 <AutumnCrow> "Tail like a Talkyr with a tail, or tail like a monster?"
18:33 <Torokasi> "Monster." Para takes a slow step back. "Don't recognize it. Looks like the 'arms' are fake."
18:34 <AutumnCrow> "Ah. Well then lets just keep going on our way then. Solmyr keep an eye on it and see if it tries to follow us."
18:37 <Torokasi> "Right." The team moves as quietly as possible back out of the riverbank, Solmyr and Para both watching it before Para turns back to the path ahead. After a few minutes, Solmyr murmurs, "It's... following? Maybe? It isn't moving as fast as we are."
18:38 <AutumnCrow> "We should outpace it in awhile then, Janda pick up the pace."
18:43 <Torokasi> Janda nods! Solmyr keeps an eye on the creature as they speed up, the group traveling another hour before Solmyr states, "It disappeared into the ground, I think."
18:45 <AutumnCrow> "Ah...well, not much we can do about that. We can keep an eye out and just kill it if it resurfaces on our side of the river I suppose."
18:49 <Torokasi> "Do we need to be concerned about it? ...Regardless, let's keep moving."  Ary twitches a bit. "Para, the path ahead clear?"
18:53 <Torokasi> Para shrugs. "Riverbed leading into forest. Seems clear so far. Likely faster to head alongside it."
18:54 <AutumnCrow> "Then lets keep at it. Not sure whether I should hope for the rain to pick up so the mist goes down, or for it to stay clear so we can have a fire tonight."
18:55 <Torokasi> "I'd say, 'let's hope for somewhere to stay' but we know how that ended." Mare chirps from the back of the group.
18:55 <AutumnCrow> "Confusingly."
19:05 <Torokasi> "Well, yes." The group heads into the forest, the leaves swaying quietly above them in the rain. The forest is quiet, though some animal sounds do permeate the Mist as they move further in... but after about twenty minutes, Para's hand goes up as he gestures forward. Suspended in midair are three withered corpses - what looks like a deer, a kobold, and... something, more skeletal than the other two, with four legs and a large, furry,
19:05 <Torokasi> human-looking tail.
19:06 <AutumnCrow> OOC: ....you're gonna need to clarify "furry, human-looking tail" becuase humans are neither furry nor have tails
19:07 <Torokasi> OOC: Looks vaguely like a Talkyr, I mean. The tail looks like it could be a Talkyr, like the thing that was on other end of riverbank
19:08 <AutumnCrow> "Detect magic, please. I want to know if any of this is illusory."
19:13 <Torokasi> Mare nods slightly and gestures toward the corpses... before physically recoiling back, and then spinning around, looking around the entire group. "...So we have two options, folks." she says after a brief pause, her voice trembling. "We start walking into the riverbed and under the very large spider web, or we walk out precisely the way we came in."
19:14 <AutumnCrow> "Straight back sounds fine to me. Move back a ways, then find another way around?"
19:15 <Torokasi> "Let's... let's do that, yes." Mare's voice cracks a bit. "I can't see the spider. I don't know where it is."
19:17 <AutumnCrow> "We've killed giant spiders before," Crow's voice is calm, as if she isn't frightened by the situation at all, "lets just carefully back up until we're past the range of the spider web, if the web is huge the spider could just be on another part of it."
19:20 <Torokasi> "R-right." Mare nods, leading the group back to near the edge of the forest. Though twitchy, she doesn't start firing, and eventually pauses. "We're out of the web. By Sath... I hate spiderwebs."
19:22 <AutumnCrow> "Para, confirm we're out from under spiderwebs?"
19:22 <AutumnCrow> (OOC: he'll burn another pp on Elfsight if needed)
19:23 <Torokasi> Para shrugs. "I couldn't see them."
19:24 <Torokasi> Mare shakes her head. "We're far enough out from them now. They're about ten feetfurther in.
19:24 <AutumnCrow> "...can you only see these webs while using detect magic, Mare?"
19:26 <Torokasi> "Yes." Mare nods. "I didn't see them until then."
19:26 <AutumnCrow> "Turn your detect magic off. Can you still see them?"
19:29 <Torokasi> Mare shakes her head. "No, I can't, unless detect magic is o-on."
19:29 <AutumnCrow> "And you don't normally spook this easily. Solmyr, try detect magic as well, see if you can see them."
19:32 <Torokasi> Solmyr waves his hand, before his face contorts slightly. "Yep. Definitely a, uh, massive, massive spiderweb. Yeesh. Who makes spiders this big?"
19:33 <AutumnCrow> "Mare, are you normally arachnophobic? I would like to rule out 'magical fear inducing spider web', is why I need to ask?"
19:34 <Torokasi> "I don't mind spiders, but I hate spiderwebs." Mare shakes her head. "So, no, not normally arachnophobic."
19:35 <AutumnCrow> "Alright. Everyone, prepare for battle. Solmyr, set the spiderweb on fire. It's damn enough out that the forest won't burn with it, should be just the webbing."
19:35 <AutumnCrow> "...presuming magical webbing burns normally? Whatever, try it anyway."
19:35 <AutumnCrow> (OOC: Damp enough, she said. Not Damn)
19:41 <Torokasi> "Right." Solmyr nods as the group prepares, Ary moving in front of the rest of the group as Solmyr murmurs, before casting a ball of flame onto the air... which immediately catches fire, the line of flame growing quickly! Solmyr blinks a bit as the fire spreads, "...Actually, the web seems even more flammable than-"
19:42 <Torokasi> At this, the flames... seem to flicker out of existence momentarily, before reappearing, spreading a bit slower but still moving! Para blinks, "...never seen that before."
19:42 <AutumnCrow> "...please tell me the spider isn't invisible."
19:46 <Torokasi> "Giant invisible magical spiders seems like a horrible idea for anything, even the Mist." Lilian coughs, before murmuring a spell under her breath. "...I don't see it. Hopefully it's not."
19:51 — AutumnCrow nods, and watches the webbing burn until it's all done.
19:54 <Torokasi> The group stands, tense, as the fires lick from tree to tree, following invisible paths. Eventually, Ary's stance begins to ease as the fires move further and further away, Lilian shaking her head after a moment. "I'd still like to walk around the burning area, but it's hopefully safer now... Still not seeing anything moving."
19:55 <AutumnCrow> "Alright, Ary and Mare, stay on battle alert. Para, Solmyr, pick us a path around this stuff."
20:02 <Torokasi> Ary and Mare keep themselves between the rest of the group and the forest as Para leads the group in a looping fashion, occasionally guided by Solmyr back away from where the webs had been. Solmyr at one point pauses the group, but waves forward after a moment, shaking his head. It's about ten minutes of walking near the edge of the forest before Mare hisses slightly. "I think that's it. Back there, behind the two large trees. Solmyr, you see
20:02 <Torokasi> it?"
20:03 <Torokasi> Solmyr peers into the forest before nodding slightly. "Looks like it's not moving. ...Let's stay away from it, regardless, unless someone needs giant spider legs or eggs or something for a spell or a recipe?"
20:04 <AutumnCrow> "I wouldn't even begin to know how to cook that." Crow nods her agreement.
20:05 <Torokasi> "Until charred, then into the trash." Ary quips.
20:06 <Torokasi> Para just shakes his head. "It's big. Too big for trash."
20:12 — AutumnCrow gestures for the pathfinders to continue leading the way around and away from the spider.
20:13 <Torokasi> The group keeps moving, further away from the spider, and back into the forest. Para glances over in the direction of the spider a few times but otherwise keeps the path forward. After a little bit, Mare comments, "Well, the spider ate... whatever that large creature with the humanoid tail was? Looked like a Talkyr... if a Talkyr never got its fur trimmed properly, ever."
20:15 <AutumnCrow> "It's a bit distressing how that creature got ahead of us, though."
20:16 <Torokasi> "May not have been the same one?" Mare notes. "Possible there's more than one out here, and that one was just... the snack for an abnormally large spider."
20:18 <AutumnCrow> "Makes as much sense as anything. Let's keep moving and put tail mimic creatures and giant magic spiders behind us, hmm?"
20:25 <Torokasi> "Indeed." The group marches on, the sun beginning to set, barely visible through the mist. After a while, Para gestures toward a larger tree, on slightly higher ground.
20:26 <Torokasi> Para looks around the area after a moment as they approach it. "Camp here? Or try to keep moving? Still have an hour or so."
20:28 <AutumnCrow> "Better to camp here I suppose. Secure the area and see if you can find something for me to cook, hmm?"
20:29 <Torokasi> Para nods slightly and slips off as Lilian shakes her head. "Not a bloody day, even if the spider web got us all tense. It's still drizzling a bit, unfortunately..."
20:31 <Torokasi> Solmyr shakes his head. "I'm glad for the rain, due to my stunt -with- the spider web."
20:32 <AutumnCrow> "We should be able to get a fire going anyway through a little drizzle. Solmyr, see if you can manage that?"
20:42 <Torokasi> Solmyr nods and begins to figure that out as the rest of the group sets up camp, Janda seeming a bit spacey as the camp is set up.  After a moment, she shakes her head and sets up her sleeping bag, seemingly lost in thought as Solmyr and Crow set up for cooking.
20:44 <AutumnCrow> "Still trying to figure out your dream?"
20:47 <Torokasi> "Y- yeah. Sorry, been distracted by it all day. Not sure what it was all about - a bunch of... strange images, really." Janda laughs a bit. "We were dealing with the spider and the dream was all I was really thinking about... haha, so out of it."
20:48 <AutumnCrow> "I suppose it's good we avoided a fight, then." Crow shakes her head, "I'd help you try to figure it out, but as i said, I'm avoiding entering the dream until we can clean up the curse."
20:52 <Torokasi> "It's fine. Not really anything to help with, honestly! It wasn't bad, just... strange." Janda shakes her head.  "Like, strange shapes and... messages? I don't know how to put it."
20:52 <AutumnCrow> "Hmm. Well if you can remember any of the shapes, try drawing them? Or any of the messages, try writing them down even if they don't make sense. It may help get them out of your head at least."
20:53 <Torokasi> "I think I will. Thanks, Crow." Janda smiles. "Maybe I'll find a pattern, or something..."
20:56 <Torokasi> Mare comes by after a moment. "... I'm going to look around a bit. I shouldn't leave Solmyr's sight, but I wanted to let you know. I'm just ... I want to be sure the spider doesn't have any webs anywhere nearby."
20:58 <AutumnCrow> "Alright. Be careful, of course."
20:58 <Torokasi> "...I think we're fine." Janda replies. "Still, better safe than sorry."
21:01 <Torokasi> Mare nods a bit briskly before heading out to look around. Janda seems to smile slightly. "She'll be fine. Um, is there anythign I can do to help?"
21:03 <AutumnCrow> "Get a pot of water boiling on the hotstone, I'll blanche some of the vegitables we brought with us to go with whatever Para catches," Crow gestures to the bag with the cooking supplies in it.
21:07 <Torokasi> "Sure thing." Janda scurries over to the stone and pours water into a pot, before placing it over the hotstone. Solmyr seems to be watching Mare, Lilian is still setting up, and Ary... is looking away from the rest of the group as well, his compass out.

Taishyr


16:40 <Torokasi> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16:42 <Torokasi> Morning comes too early for everyone except Crow, the group shuffling awake as the light dawns. Lilian is amongst the first up, while Ary and Janda both lag - but while Janda seems chipper as she wipes the dew and the night's rain off her bag, Ary seems... sluggish, rubbing his head multiple times through the wakeup and packing process. <More>
16:43 <Torokasi> After a bit, he glances to the rest of the group. "Did anyone else sleep poorly, or just me?"
16:45 <@AutumnCrow> "I was able to avoid getting pulled in to dreamspace so that's good enough for me," Crow replies as she stretches off her own sleepiness, then gives Ary a critical look, "...Mist getting to you?"
16:45 <Torokasi> Solmyr and Mare both shrug, while Lilian shakes her head. "Bad dreams, or just... bad sleep? Kinda important distinction." Solmyr asks after a moment, before nodding to Crow.
16:46 <Torokasi> Ary shrugs loosely. "I... can't tell. Doesn't - didn't - feel like Mist-addled sleep but I am lagging, it feels like - bad headache and all. ...Uhlemi was about two days away from town, right? We should be there soon."
16:49 <@AutumnCrow> "Once we get inside you can try to nap it off, I suppose." Crow nods, and begins getting breakfast ready.
16:51 <Torokasi> Janda nods slightly. "My dreams were... strange, but not unpleasant. Just confusing."
16:53 <Torokasi> Ary shakes his head in annoyance. "All I remember of mine was some spindly-looking person way far in the distance, staring at me. Creepy but not, like, sleep-disturbingly so? So I don't know."
16:55 <@AutumnCrow> "The ghost of the torched spider web haunting your dreams, surely," Crow deadpans as she cooks.
16:57 <Torokasi> "Clearly." Ary replies with a slight grin, before glancing over to Para still at his bag. "Hey, what's up?" he calls over. "You doing alright, Para?"
17:00 <Torokasi> Para starts slightly at the sound of his name before turning, some green herbs in his hand. He quietly walks over to the group and hands them to Ary. "Eat them with food. Might help."
17:01 <@AutumnCrow> "It'll be ready in just a minute," Crow increases the heat on the hotstone to hurry breakfast along a bit.
17:02 <Torokasi> Janda glances at the plant. "...Amioclaron. Yeah, might give a spring to your step? Worth a shot at least."
17:06 <Torokasi> Ary nods and, once the food is served, crumbles the herbs and mixes it in to the food. Everyone digs in, Mare nodding as she finishes first. "Excellent as always, Crow. Thank you."
17:08 <Torokasi> Solmyr glances to Crow. "You going to take up that Tiya Maxim's offer at some point in town? Would be neat to try what you make with a full facility behind you.
17:08 <@AutumnCrow> "Honestly I'm not sure I'd know what to do with it. The kitchens at the Autumn Temple are hardly restaraunt quality," Crow shrugs and cools off the hotstone, leaving morning dishes to someone else.
17:09 <Torokasi> Para and Janda move to handle dishes as Solmyr shrugs, the group finishing packing. "Still, you have to start somewhere, yeah?"
17:12 <@AutumnCrow> "True. We'll see if I feel like I have the time for it. I have...quite a number of things I need to do, lately."
17:12 <Torokasi> "True. Gotta save everyone's dreams, after all." Solmyr grins. "Para, lead the way?"
17:13 <Torokasi> Mare looks at Solmyr out of the corner of her eye. "Don't make that sort of joke - it may come true."
17:14 <@AutumnCrow> "Right now I'm mostly concered with saving my own." Crow deadpans yet again and unfolds herself from her sitting position to get ready to go.
17:22 <Torokasi> The group finishes packing and follows Para further into the forest, Mare taking an active role in looking around for the spiderwebs as they march. At one point she mentions seeing a strand or two much further north, but doesn't make any further comments as they move past it to the southeast.  <More>
17:23 <Torokasi> Eventless, the group makes it to a small clearing before Para stops, looking around in confusion. His compass... is definitely pointing toward the ground at an angle now, but there's no sign of the entry up ahead or anywhere.
17:25 <@AutumnCrow> "Uhlemi, this is Autumn Crow. If this is some kind of new security thing, please open the door."
17:29 <Torokasi> There's silence for a moment, before Crow and the rest of the group hears the soft voice of Uhlemi, "...please come this way. We have closed that entry for repairs."
17:29 — @AutumnCrow shrugs and walks in the direction of the voice.
17:30 — @AutumnCrow looks for holes in the ground while she walks.
17:38 <Torokasi> Crow... manages to spot and avoid a few small potholes as she walks, as does the rest of the group (excepting Ary who steps in one and trips, causing him to curse as Solmyr and Mare have to help him to his feet). The entryway Uhlemi has open is a thin, narrow passage into the earth, the stone rough-cut on both sides. The earth around it is fresh loam, the entrance seemingly moved up only recently. From inside, the group can hear Uhlemi say, "The
17:38 <Torokasi> Mist is making stability difficult. Please exercise caution."
17:40 <@AutumnCrow> (OOC: Is this walk down or climb down kind of path into the ground?)
17:40 <Torokasi> OOC: Walk down. It's not that steep, thankfully.
17:42 — @AutumnCrow carefully makes her way down into the entrance!
17:45 <Torokasi> The rest of the group follows behind Crow, Janda providing the light for Crow to see by as Ary takes the rear! The descent is narrow, with only space for one person to walk . As they head inward, a... moan, almost, can be heard, the entire structure seeming to flex slightly.
17:45 <Torokasi> Mare asks after a moment, "Uh, is our... current location stable enough to enter?"
17:45 <Torokasi> "Affirmative." Uhlemi replies.
17:47 <@AutumnCrow> "Single file, people." Crow calmly continues onward...though she is in Step of the Wind Stance.
18:00 <Torokasi> The group descends for a few minutes, the moans happening once or twice more, before emerging into... a massive open caven, with the path widening significantly to the right, and still air everywhere else, bats visible flapping in the space. It seems to go straight back up to topsoil, a bit of light breaking through in a few areas, and goes much further down, other platforms and entrances visible through the gloom. <More>
18:01 <Torokasi> Para looks around, before peering down the only available path from their entrance. "Looks stable." he mutters.
18:02 <Torokasi> Uhlemi's voice is clear from here, "All pathways are supported by the systems available. There is no danger of collapse here."
18:08 <@AutumnCrow> "Alright, let's find a good space inside away from the Mist to set up a basecamp and get to work." Crow smiles at her team, "I believe Solmyr and Mare on on mapping, Lilian and I are on getting what historical records we can from the Overcores and..." she looks over at Ary, "...why don't you take a short rest if you think you need one before your group starts on inventory of whatever is left
18:08 <@AutumnCrow> lying around here."
18:10 <Torokasi> "Right." Ary nods, before the rumbling and moaning begins again, at a higher pitch! Uhlemi manages to state, "Warning, incoming intruder-" before a mouth appears in the nearby stone wall, spewing dirt, dust and small stones at Para, Crow, and Janda! OOC: Reflex saves
18:12 <@AutumnCrow> OOC: Crow: 19(+evasion if that passes), Para: 25. 
18:18 <Torokasi> Crow easily rolls out of the way, and Para dodges all but a few stray pebbles, but Janda shrieks as the rocks and dirt pummels her from out of nowhere, barely covering her eyes in time! The mouth vanishes as suddenly as it appeared, Para's eyes whipping across the rock wall. "What was that...?"
18:47 <@AutumnCrow> "Uhlemi, what kind of intruder? What's going on?" Crow rolls up into a guard stance, scarf drawn into her grip mid roll.
18:49 <Torokasi> "A xorn. They can move through any rock as one would through water." Uhlemi replies. "They have been plaguing the area for weeks. Please proceed down the path - there is a metal-lined room they cannot enter easily there."
18:51 <@AutumnCrow> "We'll certainly need that for our base room, yes." Crow keeps her scarf taut as they walk, ready to deliver a flaming smack to the next xorn mouth that sticks out of the wall.
18:57 <Torokasi> The group heads down the path, Crow and Para's eyes trained on the wall as everyone else hurries down the path, prepared to block or defend as needed! But the wall is quiet, and Uhlemi doesn't speak up again as the group hurries along. At a junction between the path continuing and a door, Uhlemi finally states, "This is the room that is best used for security purposes."
18:58 <Torokasi> "...that thing could've attacked us from the wall as we were coming down here." Lilian notes crossly. "Uhlemi, a earlier heads up would've been nice."
19:03 <Torokasi> "Understood. It moved faster than anticipated." Uhlemi replies.
19:03 <Torokasi> Solmyr shakes his head. "How many of them are around here?"
19:04 <Torokasi> "Estimate based on movement patterns and based on current blind spots would place it at about 15, maybe 20." Uhlemi's tone is flat, but Solmyr groans at hearing this.
19:04 <Torokasi> Lilian rubs her head. "...We need a plan."
19:05 <@AutumnCrow> "Well this is the first I've heard of these creatures. Do any of you know more about Xorn?"
19:10 <Torokasi> "They eat about anything." Para is the first to speak. "Strong bite, weaker claws. Didn't know they could spit earth. They don't like meat, and-"
19:11 <Torokasi> Solmyr nods. "They don't like it when stuff that manipulates stone, rock, or earth is cast on them. On the other hand, fire and cold are out."
19:13 <Torokasi> "...gems lure it out, I think. Or shiny enough stones." Para nods in conclusion. "I don't know why one would attack us on sight, though."
19:30 <@AutumnCrow> "Hmm. Well let's get our camp set up and then see if there's anything we can use as bait, as well as see what we have that can actually hurt them. They sound more like dangerous pests than intelligent creatures from the decriptions."
19:38 <Torokasi> "Right." The group moves to set up camp, Lilian checking through the communal resources for anything handy for lures. Partway through, Uhlemi speaks up again, "You spoke that you wished to map and obtain historical information, as well as establish inventory?"
19:39 <@AutumnCrow> "Yes, those are our three main goals here, as well as simply assessing the overal condition of the base."
19:41 <Torokasi> "Understood." Uhlemi is silent for a moment, before, "I will attempt to provide assistance to mapping where possible. The other two tasks are beyond the current Overcores, but it may be possible to reintegrate others with better data."
19:47 <@AutumnCrow> "If there's anything I can do to assist with overcore repairs like last time, I'm prepared for it."
19:50 <Torokasi> "That will likely be necessary." Uhlemi's voice seems to waver slightly, if only for a moment. "Clearing out xorns where possible will also be necessary."
19:53 <Torokasi> "I... we don't have much suitable for a lure, offhand." Lilian mutters, slightly defeated. "Our compasses, maybe?"
19:57 <@AutumnCrow> "Lets not risk those. Trying to find something in the inventory may be the best bet...unless Janda or Mare have some jewelry they'd be willing to risk?" Crow looks to the two of them.
19:59 <Torokasi> Janda and Mare look to each other, before Janda nods. "I, uh, carry around a gaudy necklace in my pack, mostly as a luck charm, but I don't care if it gets lost somehow. We can use that first."
20:00 <Torokasi> Mare thinks. "All I have is my signet ring from my family, which... well, if I lose it, I'm even more in the barn than I am right now. Not sure a rock or gem-eating animal would find it appealing either, it's not too shiny."
20:02 <@AutumnCrow> "We'll make sure to tie a line around it so it can be jerked back away from any Xorn that comes snapping," Crow nods to Janda, "do we want to check on the overcores and start mapping first, or try to bait out some xorns first? Ary, your White Raven techniques are probably our best offense here, so this is mostly directed at you."
20:05 <Torokasi> Ary looks up from leaning against the wall. "...Probably best not to let these things get any further shots at us. At the least, we should clear the immediate area out."
20:08 <Torokasi> "Magic should work alright as well." Solmyr nods. "I'm with Ary. Let's see what we can do to lure them out."
20:08 <@AutumnCrow> "Alright..." Crow mentally goes over her plan a couple times then when she's satisfied explains, "Para you have the best senses and twitch reflexes, you hold the line that has the bait. A xorn appears, you jerk the line back. Mare, Ary, Solmyr and I will all try to destroy it before it retreats into the wall. Lilian and Janda stand clear of the walls to stay safe so they can heal those of us
20:08 <@AutumnCrow> closer in. Can anyone see any flaws with the plan?"
20:11 <Torokasi> The group is silent for a moment, before Para nods. "It should work. Platforms outside this room have enough space."
20:18 <@AutumnCrow> "Then lets get to work." Crow takes a firm grip on her scarf and goes to look for a good room to do the fighting in...metal floor with rock walls would be ideal, they don't want the enemy coming up from below if possible.
20:19 <Torokasi> Janda pulls out the necklace, using both hands to hold it - white-gold strands holding massive turquoise gemstones, looking more like a rock collection than anything resembling an actual necklace. Handing it over to Para so he can tie the rope around it, she comments, "All the metals and stones are actually pretty cheap. It's not a major loss if we lose it."
20:20 <@AutumnCrow> "Well if we lose it, we lose our bait to finish fishing up xorns with, so lets try not to anyway."
20:20 <Torokasi> Para ties the loop as Crow steps into the next room. As she does so, Uhlemi speaks, "This room is less protected than your current base camp. The xorn can come in from the ceiling or the walls."
20:21 <Torokasi> The room looks like stone on all sides, with another exit out into a hallway.
20:24 <@AutumnCrow> "Ceiling or walls is exactly what we want," Crow smirks, "we need them to be able to come in, but need them to not be able to come in from below. Stances people, Para...drag the necklace along the walls for a bit then let it rest about two feet from the wall. We need to make them reach for it."
20:30 <Torokasi> The group moves into position, Para doing as instructed. Everything is quiet for a few minutes, before... Crow spots it first, behind Ary - an eye, peeking out from the earth, looking at the necklace. After just a second, however, it vanishes.
20:31 <@AutumnCrow> "Hmm...maybe they're smarter than I thought."
20:32 <Torokasi> Para snarls slightly. "Maybe. Should still be going for it."
20:36 — @AutumnCrow watches for more xorn activity...
20:41 <Torokasi> After what seems like an eternity...! A Xorn drops right from the ceiling onto Para, attempting to bite and claw at him, but Para manages to duck and roll out of the way! OOC: I'm not treating this as a standard combat because it's next action is "move out of harm's way". Solmyr, Ary, yourself, and Mare can act to hit it.
20:46 <@AutumnCrow> Ary dashes forward at the creature, blade leaving the sheathe for a powerful blow! (OOC: BLC 2 into PA. 21 to hit, 1d10+4+4+10 +1d6 damage = 29 dmage if that hits)
20:48 <@AutumnCrow> Hot on his heels, Crow snaps her scarf out to catch the Xorn with a focused blow! (OOC: Insightful Strike. 16 to hit, 14 damage if that hits)
20:55 <Torokasi> The two blows hit the Xorn... and seem to barely phase it, its eyes turning to focus on the two warriors! From behind the group, Mare and Solmyr launch their own salvos of missiles and grey light, and with the xorn distracted, the blows land cleanly, causing it to shudder and practically melt, a few gemstones left in the ooze!
20:57 <@AutumnCrow> "Hmph. My attack seemed to do nothing...this is one of those foes best faced with Stone Dragon. My worst style."
20:58 <Torokasi> "I couldn't do much there either." Ary shakes his head. "Harder skin than I thought..."
21:00 <Torokasi> Mare shakes her head. "This might be a slow process. At least we have more stones to put in the center of the room, now?
21:00 — @AutumnCrow focuses to refresh her maneuver before another one shows up.
21:01 <@AutumnCrow> "Slow is fine, so long as we're winning every fight without taking damage. We can retreat to safety once magical resources are low."
21:04 <Torokasi> "Yeah." Ary pauses to focus himself as well, everyone moving back into position as Para rubs the gemstones  and necklace all over the room.
21:04 <Torokasi> After a moment, Para comments, almost as if to itself, "Did they go for me because of the rope around the necklace?"
21:06 <@AutumnCrow> "It's what makes the most sense. Are you alright?"
21:13 <Torokasi> "Yeah." Para nods slightly. "It didn't catch m-" Suddenly, a second xorn lunges out of the wall at Mare, biting deeply into her shoulder as a claw rakes across her face! Screaming, she stumbles back a step, giving Crow and Ary room to engage...! OOC: Same as before. Crow and Ary, then Solmyr and Mare unless you want one of them to set you up.
21:14 <@AutumnCrow> (OOC: did Ary also have time to refresh his maneuver? And is there charge room between him and the one attacking Mare?)
21:15 <Torokasi> OOC: Yes and yes, if barely. He was standing opposite Mare and it's a small room, but he has enough space.
21:19 <@AutumnCrow> Ary focuses again and dashes towards the xorn letting out a battle cry! (OOC: BLC 2 into PA again...and that's a 29 to hit, which is a threat. 27 to confirm. Uh. Rip. 2d10+8+8+20 +1d6 = 50 damage even. Uh. Ow.)
21:21 <@AutumnCrow> Crow also moves into position, lashing out with her scarf, this time not using her best manuever becuase she's on the lookout for more of them! (OOC: just a smack. 18 to hit, 6 damage.)
21:22 <Torokasi> Ary's form is better this time, and before even Crow can dart in, the blade slices straight through the xorn! It hangs in the air for a moment, Ary's inhalation through his beak audible... and then it bursts, rocks clattering to the floor as ooze sprays everywhere! Ary's body shields most the group from the ooze and Crow deflects with ease, but it goes straight into Ary's beak, his eyes going wide for a moment before he gags and sprints out into
21:22 <Torokasi> the hallway, coughing and hacking.
21:24 <@AutumnCrow> "Para, collect the bait and the...new gems I suppose. Lets retreat back to base camp for a bit before they swarm us."
21:26 <Torokasi> "Right." Para nods, gathering up the rocks as Janda goes to heal Mare. Ary continues hacking in the hallway as the group retreats, Ary slowly following behind.
21:27 <Torokasi> As the group recollects itself, Mare wincing at the damage to her armor from the bite, Uhlemi speaks, "The other nearby xorn have fled."
21:27 <@AutumnCrow> "Well if they could see that display I'm not surprised."
21:29 <Torokasi> "By Sath that tasted viler than the shit on Sothok's ass!" Ary manages after a moment
21:31 <Torokasi> "I'd give you grief over that, but you've suffered enough." Solmyr notes wryly as Ary takes another, annoyed breath.
21:31 <@AutumnCrow> "We thank you for your sacrifice in confirming that I cannot cook these things." Crow deadpans while pulling out water and tea leaves once back in the room to make something to help him with that.
21:32 <Torokasi> -----------------------------------------------------------------

Taishyr

Torokasi> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
16:19 <Torokasi> The group catches their breath in the safe room, Ary's breathing still ragged. Solmyr looks to Crow at this point. "Do we need another plan to handle these things?"
16:23 <AutumnCrow> "I...don't think so. We may not need bait anymore now that we've killed a couple, the rest may come at us of thier own accord." Snapping out a fan, Crow fanned herself while she thinks, "...honestly this may work just fine. Kill a couple, retreat back to a room with no earthen walls to recover, and once Solmyr or Janda is out of magic we call it a day and get some rest. If they can move
16:23 <AutumnCrow> through stone that easily, they won't risk coming somewhere there is no stone at all. I don't know much about hunting but I know that creatures don't like to leave thier native terrain unless forced."
16:25 <Torokasi> Para nods slightly. "They like being safe."
16:26 <AutumnCrow> "Avoid any rooms with earthen floors," Crow adds, "we can handle them coming from the sides or above, but we cannot fight against an attack from below."
16:29 <Torokasi> "Most rooms do not have earthen floors due to the original design of Uhlemi." The voice notes calmly. "It should be possible to navigate further inward if desired without worrying about such attacks."
16:32 <AutumnCrow> "Well, that's good. Do we want to take a break to explore inwards for now, or keep baiting xorns?"
16:33 <Torokasi> "Uhlemi, you said that the xorns seemed to be leaving this section, yes?" Lilian asks.
16:35 <Torokasi> "Correct. Right now there is no Xorn within proximity that could attempt an attack." Uhlemi replies.
16:36 <AutumnCrow> "I suppose that answers the question for us, hmm?"
16:38 <Torokasi> "Indeed." Mare nods. "Let's get moving further on. Ary, let us know if you're feeling ill."
16:38 <Torokasi> Ary nods a bit grimly.
16:40 <Torokasi> Para blinks, before quietly looping the bait up over his shoulder and bagging the gems. "Why are the xorn here, though... maybe further on."
16:44 <AutumnCrow> "That is a good question," Crow nods, "lets move on and see if there's anything around that would be attracting them."
16:49 <Torokasi> The group heads inward, Solmyr doing brief map sketches as the group heads onward. At a branch - a path heading down some stairs to Crow's right, and a path leading into another room to the left - Uhlemi comments, "Take the left path. I do not have sensors active on the right path, nor data on what should be there."
16:50 <AutumnCrow> "We'll have to explore down there later." Crow notes, but goes left for now.
16:56 <Torokasi> The group turns left and enters the room, which seems to be an old storage room. There are four barrels, three of which are open and seemingly empty, and multiple boxes on the other side of the room next to the door out.
16:57 <AutumnCrow> "Someone see if you can safely get that last barrel open to see what's in it, I'll start checking these boxes."
17:02 <Torokasi> Para nods and heads to the barrel, looking it over as Crow goes to the boxes. Not exactly crates, these are carved from what looks like single blocks of wood with removable tops. Inside are documents - the top few faded, but much of the writing on the documents is visible, if not comprehensible. Lilian looks over Crow's shoulder and blinks. "Looks like it could be... financial documentation? Just by the format. Can't read a whit of it."
17:03 <AutumnCrow> "Would anyone in the city be interested in things like these just for historical signifigance?" Crow wonders aloud.
17:04 <Torokasi> "It's certainly possible. At the least, we should make sure we keep looking through to see if there's anything more compelling." Lilian nods.
17:06 <Torokasi> Para calls over, "This looks and smells like oil."
17:08 <Torokasi> Janda goes to Para while Lilian glances in another box. "... This is different documentation. Wonder why oil was stored in the same room?"
17:08 <AutumnCrow> "What kind of oil?" Crow nods to Lilian, letting her look through the documents and goes over to look at the oil herself with her cook's eye.
17:09 <Torokasi> "Dunno." Para replies as Crow comes over. It's a light oil, unlike the sort used for lanterns... OOC: Cooking check?
17:10 <AutumnCrow> (OOC: Take 10 for 22)
17:12 <Torokasi> It... looks like a cooking oil, but there's floating detritus in it that's unfamiliar, mostly near the bottom, of a redder hue. Some sort of plant-based oil?
17:14 <AutumnCrow> "Some kind of plant based oil, almost looks like a cooking oil like sunflower or canola, but I'm not sure exactly what. I'm sure it could be magically purified if we need to use it for anything." She shrugs, "Seal it back up for now."
17:16 <Torokasi> Para nods and slides the lid back on, before tapping it into place. Lilian closes up a fourth box, shaking her head. "It could be interesting to someone if it's readable, but I can't really say I know for sure."
17:20 <AutumnCrow> "Hmm. Well, take a few pages back with us to see if anyone back in the city can figure out the language."
17:21 <Torokasi> "Got it." Lilian grabs a few from the fourth box before slipping them into her bag.
17:21 <Torokasi> Solmyr shrugs. "If we're still clear of xorn, shall we keep going?"
17:22 — AutumnCrow nods.
17:25 <Torokasi> The group heads out of the room and back into the large, open-air room, on a different platform. Uhlemi comments, "The xorn have congregated multiple levels lower. There does not seem to be any movement to track the group here."
17:29 <AutumnCrow> "Let us know if small groups of them break off, if you can sense that." Crow asks, "we don't want to face the entire group, but if we can pick them off a few at a time that's ideal."
17:30 <Torokasi> "Right, let's just... keep moving then. What else is ahead?"
17:30 <Torokasi> ooc: strike\
17:31 <Torokasi> "Right, let's just... keep moving then. What else is ahead?" Janda nods to Crow as she speaks.
17:34 <Torokasi> Uhlemi is silent for a long while, before, "My information access is too damaged to be certain. I can, however, track the xorns easily, and will inform you if they move."
17:37 <AutumnCrow> "That's what we need. What's inside the rooms and hallways we can learn on our own, where the things that can move through walls are we cannot."
17:37 <Torokasi> Janda nods slightly as the group moves along the path. However, near the door, Para halts the group, peering in. "...it smells. Bad."
17:41 <AutumnCrow> "...define bad?" Crow sighs, "garbage bad? Rotting meat bad?"
17:43 <Torokasi> Para's nose twitches. "Vomit and rotten egg."
17:44 <Torokasi> Ary just shakes his head miserably. "If it was organic, it would likely have rotted long ago, yes?"
17:46 <AutumnCrow> "...isn't that what the corrupted lizard area smelled like?" Crow asks, flicking her eyes back to Janda.
17:51 <Torokasi> "Yeah." Janda nods grimly. "More for the corruption than the lizards."
17:52 <AutumnCrow> "Could there be a Mist leak in here?" Crow wonders, then ties her scarf around her face to help filter the air, "Para, grab some cloth and do the same. You and I will take a look in first. Janda, be on standby if we need you."
17:55 <Torokasi> "Got it." Janda nods as Para wordlessly pulls cloth out of his bag to do the same, his weapons readied. Solmyr and Mare prepare to act if needed, while Lilian stands guard and Ary looks queasy.
17:56 — AutumnCrow slowly leads the way in, letting Para cover her with his bow in case of danger.
18:01 <Torokasi> Crow steps in and, right at the doorway, the scent hits her, heavy and thick - and emanating from a large, oozelike creature in the middle of the room, its humanoid form barely discernable as it slouches toward Crow! OOC: Init. Para and you are in range to attack it (move 5ft+attack in Crow's case, shoot in Para's), Janda can assist, and the others are on call for now.
18:05 <AutumnCrow> "Some kind of ooze monster!" Crow calls out. (OOC: Crow init 18, Para 17)
18:06 Torokasi set the topic: Crow > Para > Ooze Mephit?
18:09 — AutumnCrow steps forward, snapping out both fans and igniting them with a burst of flame as she completes a scissor cross! (OOC: step in, burning blade flurry of blows. Attack 1: 10 to hit. Attack 2: 20 to hit. Damage 2: 7 phys, 9 fire. Attack 3: 15 to hit. Damage 3: 5 phs, 9 fire).
18:11 <Torokasi> The creature recoils at Crow's attack, black marks charred into its yellow-green body, the flames seeming highly effective...! OOC: Para.
18:12 Torokasi set the topic: Crow > Para > Ooze Mephit? (30 taken)
18:15 <AutumnCrow> Para plinks at the strange ooze critter with his bow! (OOC: Rapid Shot. Attack 1: 10 to hit. Attack 2: 16 to hit. Damage 2: 5 physical)
18:18 <Torokasi> The second arrow lands solidly in the ooze's arm, the creature wobbling slightly at the impact before it seems to vomit a cloud of acidic rain at Crow and Para! OOC: Reflex saves.
18:21 <AutumnCrow> OOC: Crow ref 18(+evasion if I make it), Para ref 23
18:25 Torokasi set the topic: Crow > Para (34/44) > Ooze Mephit? (30 taken)
18:25 <Torokasi> Crow instinctively steps aside as the creature breathes, and Para rolls back a bit but is still caught by the edge of the acidic cloud, hissing as his fur and skin crackle and burn! OOC: Crow.
18:28 <AutumnCrow> Crow continues her slip to the side, lashing out mid movement with a focused thrust with a suddenly closed fan! (OOC: Insightful strike. Attack: 19 to hit. Damage 28 physical I love this maneuver.)
18:31 <Torokasi> The ooze creature seems about to act again, but Crow's thrust slams straight into it, its body shuddering before collapsing! OOC: Free act.
18:34 — AutumnCrow looks around to make sure that was the only one.
18:36 <Torokasi> The room seems... well, not empty, as the slime is everywhere, dripping down the walls and from the ceiling, pock marks everywhere with metal exposed under the floor - but free of other hostile entities.
18:38 <AutumnCrow> "Alright..." Crow gestures for Para to leave as well, and heads back towards the others. "Some kind of slime monster in there. Hate to ask this, but if you magically inclined types could go take a look to see what it was and if whatever damage it did could be cleaned up?"
18:38 <AutumnCrow> She takes off her scarf, offering it out to whoever wants to take it, "here."
18:42 <Torokasi> Solmyr nods and wraps his mouth with cloth from his turban, while Janda takes the scarf, blinking at the weight but wrapping it around her face, and Lilian wraps her own face with some spare loose fabric. "Let's do this." Lilian says, muffled, as the three head in. Ary watches them go listlessly.
18:46 — AutumnCrow moves a bit further down the path to get her breath back away from the stench while waiting.
18:57 <Torokasi> Mare shakes her head as the mages work in the room. "Prestidigitation can probably clean up a lot of it, but acid and oozes are tough to fully clean up after..."
19:01 <AutumnCrow> "I wonder how it got in here."
19:06 <Torokasi> "If I had to guess... from underground?" Mare shrugs. "Either that or from some other entry around here. If we see more acid damage we'll know."
19:18 <Torokasi> The mages exit the room eventually, Lilian and Janda making the same face as Solmyr shakes his head. "We managed to vanish anything that could be harmful or anything. The pockmarks from acid will need time to fix, though, and either someone good at stonemasonry or magic."
19:22 <AutumnCrow> "So do you have any idea what exactly it was? It...was almost mephit like, but was far larger and stronger than the ones we faced before."
19:25 <Torokasi> Lilian shakes her head. "That sort of breath weapon it used on Para shouldn't be possible for a mephit, yeah. I don't quite know what that could have been."
19:31 <Torokasi> ----------------------------------

Taishyr

Torokasi> -------------------------------------------
16:40 <Torokasi> Solmyr shrugs as well. "Some... sort of acid elemental? I'm not familiar with elementals outside of the basic ones, but it seems possible."
16:42 <Torokasi> Mare frowns. "Crow asked where it could have come from. Don't elementals have to be summoned?"
16:42 <Torokasi> Solmyr shakes his head. "This place did have living magics before. Maybe... it's one of those going haywire."
16:43 <@AutumnCrow> "Well at least it fell easily enough," Crow shrugs, "not much more we can do in there for now...where next."
16:45 <Torokasi> There is a notable pause, before Lilian looks up. "Well, Uhlemi? ...Security Overcore?"
16:47 <Torokasi> "...there was a path through the room we just cleared up." Janda says after another silence. "Should we keep walking that way? Looks like the only route."
16:50 <@AutumnCrow> "May as well...Overcore can you hear us?"
16:51 <Torokasi> The silence continues as the group shuffles uncomfortably, before Para notes, "We may be out of its range?"
16:52 <@AutumnCrow> "Maybe. Let's head back a bit first and see if that's all that's wrong."
16:55 <Torokasi> The group nods and returns back toward the storage room. Lilian calls out again once they reach the entrance to the room, "Uhlemi, can you hear us?"
16:57 <Torokasi> What the group hears.... sounds like white noise, a strange sort of rustling noise, before Uhlemi's voice cuts in, "Communications damaged. Continue on the path, and at the branch, go dow-" The rustling gets too loud to hear Uhlemi after that point.
16:58 <@AutumnCrow> "Alright," Crow snaps a fan back out as she walks, "lets follow directions as best we can, maybe there's some way to repair communications."
17:01 <Torokasi> The group nods, following Crow back to the acid-pitted room (now thankfully smelling relatively normal) and along a wide stone hallway. At the other end are two doors, both closed - a larger, iron-crafted door in front of the group, and a smaller door to the right made of some smooth carved wood. Solmyr snorts. "Of course the doors are closed. Still, can't imagine we aren't safe opening both."
17:04 <Torokasi> Mare glances around the doors. "No obvious magic for what it's worth."
17:05 <@AutumnCrow> "Lets try the wooden door first then, for lack of any real way to decide." Crow nods to Para to take point on doors for now.
17:08 <Torokasi> Para nods, crouching at the door before swinging it open inward into the room. He seems tense for a moment, before relaxing, hands moving off his weapons. "It's safe. Some small storage room, looks like."
17:10 <@AutumnCrow> "Anything magical in there?" Crow looks to Mare.
17:14 <Torokasi> Mare looks in. "... There's something in the boxes in there, yeah." She steps in, Para keeping pace with her as a guard. Lilian, meanwhile, moves to the iron door with Solmyr next to her, ready to check that way themselves.
17:16 <@AutumnCrow> "Go ahead and check out whatever's magical, we can come back and inventory the boxes later." Crow moves over to the metal door as well, looking to Lilian, "Go ahead."
17:18 <Torokasi> "Got it." Mare nods, while Lilian nods and swings the door open... to another generic room of boxes and storage, practically stacked to the ceiling against the walls.
17:19 <@AutumnCrow> "...of course. So what was the overcore trying to tell us to do here. It said go down...is there a hidden door leading down somewhere?" Crow looks around a bit, unsure of what to even begin looking for.
17:21 <Torokasi> "Uhh. Maybe... well, the crates could be stacked against a door? Or a trapdoor?" Lilian suggests as she and Crow enter the room, Solmyr right behind them, glancing around.
17:22 <@AutumnCrow> "Can you two tell if there's anything magical in here, before we start moving things?"
17:22 <Torokasi> Mare's voice can be heard from the other room, "...it's a, uh. I think it's a codpiece."
17:22 <@AutumnCrow> "...what."
17:29 <Torokasi> Lilian is halfway through muttering the spell out when she chokes at Mare's comment, Solmyr's eyes lighting up as he bolts from the room. Lilian finishes the spell and glances around, "...There's a glyph on the wall. I don't know what it is, but there's a line from it to the floor..."
17:31 <@AutumnCrow> "Maybe it opens some stairs down?" Crow speculates, "once the others are done examining....Mare's find...see if anyone can recognize the glyph or figure out what it does."
17:32 <Torokasi> "Alright. I'll see if I can find documentation on it or anything while we, uh... wait?" Lilian offers.
17:32 <Torokasi> "Do not put it on!" Para can be heard barking in the background.
17:33 <@AutumnCrow> "...Solmyr if you get cursed or something by putting on a random magical codpiece I swear I will ensure the entirety of Veraxis learns of it."
17:34 <Torokasi> "I'm not the one he's yelling at!" Solmyr replies, audibly holding back laughter, as Janda can be heard giggling loudly, drowning out anyone else.
17:35 <@AutumnCrow> Crow sighs and walks back out there to see who is doing what stupid thing this time.
17:39 <Torokasi> "Para, I was not going to put it on. I'm just looking at the, uh, dumb thing." Mare can be heard explaining as she holds... what is definitely a codpiece. A codpiece with a jester's mask on it.
17:41 <@AutumnCrow> "I should have remembered that we do in fact have one party member with worse sense than Solmyr," Crow gives Mare a half smirk, then continues, "Lilian found a magical glyph that is connected to the floor in the other room, can any of you identify it?"
17:43 <Torokasi> "Please put that down, Mare." Solmyr begs, beginning to break down laughing as Mare snarls at him.
17:43 <Torokasi> After a moment, Mare throws it back into the box and puts the lid on. "I'll see if I can. Janda, you with me?"
17:44 <Torokasi> "Just one second, yes." Janda chirps, still recovering.
17:52 <Torokasi> Mare and eventually Janda leave the room, leave Crow, Solmyr and Para in there, Solmyr and Para looking between each other before Solmyr finally says, "See, what I want is to see Ary put that thing on."
17:53 — @AutumnCrow looks over at the box, "...Para, please secure that box. We'll need to have it identified back in town." She says this with a near emotionless tone, then turns to follow the mages back to see what they can make of the glyph.
17:59 <Torokasi> Para nods quietly as Crow heads back to where Lilian, Janda and Mare are standing, seemingly staring at the wall and muttering amongst themselves. As Crow approaches, Janda places her hand on the wall, before shaking her head.
18:06 <Torokasi> "Okay. So... it's definitely supposed to open a downward path." Mare mutters. "And it should be active right now. But it's not."
18:07 <@AutumnCrow> "Can we figure out how to activate it?"
18:07 <Torokasi> Janda nods slightly. "We may need Para or Crow here? They were the ones that could interface- Oh!" The three turn. "It should be touch activated, but none of us can do it."
18:08 — @AutumnCrow shrugs, and touches the indicated glyph.
18:13 <Torokasi> Crow can... feel some sort of energy on her palm as she touches where Janda had her hand. The wall seems to vibrate, practically shaking Crow, before the door slams shut behind them, Ary, Solmyr, and Para's voice faintly audible behind it!
18:15 — @AutumnCrow quickly takes her hand off it!
18:17 <Torokasi> Mare tries to rush to the door with the entire room shaking, only tripping once and sliding to the door before attempting to open it! It takes a while for the trembling to subside even after Crow takes her hand off it, but the room eventually stops shaking, Mare still futilely pulling at the door.
18:19 <@AutumnCrow> "Is it opening?"
18:19 <Torokasi> "No, unfortunately." Mare huffs, the boys still yelling at the door. "I think they're trying to knock it down or something... Did it change something in the room?"
18:20 <@AutumnCrow> "I'm going to touch it again, pay attention with you rmagical senses to see what changes."
18:20 — @AutumnCrow waits for Mare's signal, then touches the glyph again.
18:21 <Torokasi> Mare nods slightly, before Crow touches the glyph again, the room beginning to shake and tremble again! After a moment, all three of the other ladies utter an "Ah!" practically simultaneously.
18:22 <Torokasi> "It's... rotating the room?" Mare manages to blurt out. "Something like that - there's a faint aura above us that I can see moving."
18:23 <Torokasi> "The floor too, I can see it there!" Janda excitedly replies. "...But the room's square, so ... maybe something else is happening as well? Otherwise a corner would bump into the hallway the boys are in."
18:24 <@AutumnCrow> "Alright, I'll just...keep my hand on it until it's done. Maybe it will open the door then."
18:26 <Torokasi> "Right." The four brace themselves, Lilian holding onto Crow for stability. After about a minute, the rumbling ceases, and Crow can feel the energy under her hand dying down. Mare tugs at the door, before falling over as it opens without any issue. "...Yeah, it's a different hallway."
18:27 <@AutumnCrow> "...well, I'm not okay with being split up. If I do it again will it take us back do you think?"
18:32 <Torokasi> "I..." Lilian glances at the door. "...don't think so. It looks a lot dimmer."
18:34 — @AutumnCrow puts her hand back on it anyway.
18:41 <Torokasi> There doesn't seem to be an immediate response. Mare and Janda are peering down the hallway, "It looks like a short walk to the next door. ...But why would this even be necessary?" Janda wonders aloud.
18:42 <@AutumnCrow> "Overcore I don't suppose you can hear us now?"
18:43 <Torokasi> The sound of static can be heard from down the hallway at Crow's words, if only briefly.
18:44 <@AutumnCrow> "Alright, lets move on, see if we can communicate with the overcore and get back to the others."
18:53 <Torokasi> "Alright." The group heads down the hallway to the next iron door, Mare pushing it open, before blinking. This room... appears to have been a waiting room for someone higher up, elegant wooden furniture lingering about and a thick wooden desk next to the door further in. The static gets louder for a second, before Uhlemi can be heard, "You have reached... go through and find..."
18:57 <@AutumnCrow> "Go through..." Crow shrugs then follows the instructions to go through the next door.
19:02 <Torokasi> The group heads through, Mare admiring the furniture on the way through. Inside the next simple door is what appears to be some sort of lounge, a relatively larger room with more wooden chairs around tables and... a swirling magical vortex seemingly moving through the room at random. The room seems surprisingly free of dust.
19:06 <Torokasi> Mare seems to be a bit behind the group, checking the desk quickly as Lilian looks around. "... The magic isn't aggressing us, at least?" she shrugs after a moment.
19:07 <@AutumnCrow> "...well this room has an animate vortex and is rather uniquely clean. I'm sure these facts are related."
19:09 <Torokasi> "Probably." Lilian murmurs. "And... there's a exit on the opposite end of this wall. Should we check in there first?"
19:09 <@AutumnCrow> "Seems reasonable," Crow nods and heads over that way to check.
19:23 <Torokasi> The three move to check that room, Mare following behind after a moment emptyhanded. The voice of Uhlemi cuts in again, "...should be some crystalline... touch it to the glyph. Cryst..." The room is much more of a mess - cobwebs and dust everywhere, with crates arranged much more haphazardly.
19:24 <Torokasi> Lilian sighs. "...We're going to have to search this, aren't we."
19:25 <@AutumnCrow> "Obviously." Crow wraps her scarf back around her face to prevent breathing in dust as much as possible, "Mare, start with searching for magic. Lilian and I will do the physical searching, Janda keep track of what has and hasn't been looked at, you're on originization. Let's get started."
19:30 <Torokasi> "Got it." The four quickly move to task, searching through the items there... OOC: Search check for Crow?
19:31 <@AutumnCrow> OOC: with my whopping -1 check, I get a 9.
19:35 <Torokasi> The search takes a few minutes, but eventually Lilian pulls out what looks like a crystal from a box of what looks to be playing cards, games, and assorted trinkets. "This could be it?" Lilian shrugs. "Best I've seen so far, but we've got half the room still to search."
19:36 <@AutumnCrow> "Alright, give to to Janda for now and lets make sure there's nothing else crystal in here before heading back."
19:39 <Torokasi> Janda takes the crystal as the search continues, Crow moving through books and documents as well as random vials and jugs of unidentified substances before Mare blinks. "I think I found something, too. It's not magic, but... the voice didn't specify that?" Reaching in, she pulls out a thin, long, clear rod. "Maybe this?"
19:40 <@AutumnCrow> "Perhaps. Well, no reason not to try them both."
19:47 <Torokasi> "Indeed. We'll have to formally document this room later, as well as... ah... the codpiece room." Janda blushes a bit. "Shall we head out?"
19:50 <@AutumnCrow> "Lets head back and see if these crystals do anything to the glyph, yes." Crow nods and leads the way back.
19:54 <Torokasi> The group exits, Lilian leading the way... before she gasps as the magic vortex, from across the room, begins accelerating quickly toward the group, sparking with energy!
19:54 <Torokasi> OOC: Init.
19:55 <@AutumnCrow> "Of course, we're now covered in dust and need to be cleaned." Crow sighs. (OOC: 17 init)
20:00 Torokasi set the topic: Vortex > Janda > Mare > Crow > Lilian
20:06 <Torokasi> The vortex rushes up to the group, stopping up to ten feet away, before the area around Crow and company seems to warp inward on itself...! OOC: Will check.
20:07 <@AutumnCrow> OOC: ....phhhh, Crow gets a 30 with her nat 20. Talk about iron willed.
20:08 Torokasi set the topic: Vortex > Janda (Slowed) > Mare > Crow > Lilian (Slowed)
20:12 Torokasi set the topic: Vortex (8 damage taken) > Janda (Slowed) > Mare > Crow > Lilian (Slowed)
20:12 <Torokasi> Janda and Lilian gasp as their bodies begin moving sluggishly, but Mare and Crow seem unphased! Janda is too distracted to act, but Mare fires an eldritch beam at the vortex, nicking it with the gray energy! OOC: Crow.
20:30 — @AutumnCrow unwinds her magical scarf from around her face and edges around the vortex, slashing out with a snapping strike from the scarf when she had a good range. (OOC: Single attack to gauge it's AC before flurrying or using manuevers. ...Attack roll: 13. Okay. )
20:46 <Torokasi> The storm twists away with ease from Crow's attack! Lilian's face contorts, before she says, drawn-out, "Croooow... I'll gwaaaaard Jaaan- heeeere.", here blade moving into defensive position! The vortex lets out a loud noise, like a dying bird, before blasts of energy lash through the air and slam into Mare and Lilian!
20:46 Torokasi set the topic: Vortex (8 damage taken) > Janda (Slowed) > Mare (11 nonlethal) > Crow > Lilian (Slowed, 11 nonlethal)
20:47 <Torokasi> The two stumble back, Janda gasping almost comically at the hit! Mare recovers quickly and lets loose another blast of energy, again grazing the magical vortex! OOC: Crow.
20:47 Torokasi set the topic: Vortex (21 damage taken) > Janda (Slowed) > Mare (11 nonlethal) > Crow > Lilian (Slowed, 11 nonlethal)
20:51 — @AutumnCrow takes advantage of the fact that the Vortex seems focused on those who were slowed to slowly move into position alongside it, before sweeping her scarf out in an arc she didn't think the wind could possibly avoid! (OOC: Emerald Razor. Attack roll: 21 and this hits Touch ac due to the maneuver. DAmage: 1d6+5+4(discipline strike) = 14)
20:53 <Torokasi> The vortex seems to feel the blow intensely, the energy splashing out everywhere! Lilian grimaces but keeps her guard up... OOC: Top of round, lemme figure out Vortex action
20:54 Torokasi set the topic: Vortex (35 damage taken) > Janda (Slowed) > Mare (11 nonlethal) > Crow > Lilian (Slowed, 11 nonlethal)
20:57 <Torokasi> The vortex seems to shake and rattle, before emitting a loud, sustained shriek that seems to go on forever...! OOC: Will save, again.
20:57 <@AutumnCrow> OOC: Will save 21
20:59 <Torokasi> But the entire group stands strong against the howling trying to sink into their bones, Mare throwing another blast of energy out!  This one further shakes the vortex, seeming to dissipate for a moment before managing to reform! OOC: Crow
20:59 Torokasi set the topic: Vortex (50 damage taken) > Janda (Slowed) > Mare (11 nonlethal) > Crow > Lilian (Slowed, 11 nonlethal)
21:02 <@AutumnCrow> Seeing that it seems to be wavering, Crow fades back to the edge of her reach, then halfsteps back in with a quick one-two combination with her scarf, snapping it like a whip. (OOC: Flurry of Blows. Attack 1: 16. Damage 1(if a 16 hits): 8. Attack 2: 24. Damage 2: 11.)
21:03 <Torokasi> The vortex manages to evade the first blow, but the second lands squarely across the vortex, practically shattering it into tiny pieces! OOC: Free act.
21:04 <@AutumnCrow> "I dislike that we have to break so many of the things that should be working for us if only the overcores were properly working," Crow grumbles while putting her scarf back up.
21:04 <Torokasi> "... can re-integrate... immediate..." the hissing noise comes back, Uhlemi's voice audible in it.
21:06 <@AutumnCrow> "Lets get these crystal things back to the glyph," Crow looks to see if the slowness is wearing off her companions.
21:07 <Torokasi> It does seem to be. If a bit slowly. Lilian's headshake is still somewhat distorted, and Janda is still finishing nodding to Crow's comment.
21:09 — @AutumnCrow waits until the sluggishness seems to be completely gone before heading back towards the room with the glyph.
21:09 <Torokasi> Mare shakes her head in annoyance. "Cleaning and anti-theft, I guess...?" With that, as Lilian and Janda snap back to normal, the group moves back to the glyph without further incident.
21:16 <Torokasi> Mare and Lilian both hold up their crystals - Lilian's relatively generic-looking crystalline rock, and Mare's long, thin rod. "Which do we try first?" Janda asks.
21:16 <Torokasi> "...does it matter? Do we think the wrong choice would actually make something bad happen?" Lilian asks rhetorically.
21:18 — @AutumnCrow takes the rock first, simply due to standing closer to Lilian at the moment, and touches it to where the glyph is.
21:19 <Torokasi> The glyph hums, before the rock is practically sucked into the wall! Mare snorts, eyeing the rod she's holding, "Guess this isn't it. What on earth is this for, then?"
21:20 <@AutumnCrow> "Who knows? Hold on to it, I'm sure it's useful for something."
21:20 — @AutumnCrow makes sure everyone is in the room properly, then touches the glyph again.
21:21 <Torokasi> The room begins shuddering and shaking like mad again, the door slamming shut as before! As Crow holds her hand on the glyph, Mare looks upward at the ceiling again, nodding to Crow after a moment. "Looks like it's working."
21:25 <Torokasi> As the room continues shaking, Mare's eyes shift to the door. "Looks like Solmyr's still there, trying to cast something?"
21:28 <@AutumnCrow> "At least they haven't wandered off." Crow breathes a sigh of relief.
21:28 <Torokasi> "Yeah. On the other hand, Solmyr or Ary could've put the codpiece on." Lilian notes, smirking.
21:30 <Torokasi> The room eventually comes to a stop, Mare moving to the door... before pausing and stepping back. "SOLMYR! DON'T BLOW THE DOOR UP! WE'RE COMING OUT!"
21:31 <@AutumnCrow> "That would be why I asked Para specifically to secure it."
21:33 <Torokasi> "Sure, but... you know, he had to move to the door to try and figure that out, and in the chaos Solmyr may have nicked it..." Lilian sing-songs as the door slowly pushes open, Solmyr and Para's head poking through.
21:34 <@AutumnCrow> "We're all fine," Crow notes as the door opens.
21:35 <Torokasi> "Thank Magdanae..." Solmyr mutters. "What the hell happened?"
21:36 <Torokasi> Para, meanwhile, darts into the room, grabs Janda's hand, and practically rushes her out of the room with him, Janda uttering a startled yelp but following along.
21:36 <@AutumnCrow> "Somehow touching the glyph made the room move I think." Crow gestures to it but does not touch it, "and it took us to a different hallway. We had to find a crystal to...repower it, I think, to get back."
21:37 — @AutumnCrow eyes Para and Janda gets pulled out, "...what happened?"
21:40 <Torokasi> Solmyr shakes his head. "Ary's not feeling good. Para's worried about him."
21:43 <Torokasi> Mare shakes her head and follows Janda out, while Lilian turns back to the space for the glyph. "It's still active. Good."
21:46 <@AutumnCrow> "Hopefully it stays that way." Crow nods, then steps out of the room to wait for Janda to do her thing.
21:47 <Torokasi> ----------------------------------------------------

Taishyr

Torokasi> --------------------------------------------------------------
15:47 <Torokasi> Lilian shakes her head slightly. "I'm going to search the rest of this room. You check on Para and make sure everyone's okay?"
15:52 <@AutumnCrow> "Alright," Crow nods, following Janda off to where Ary and Para likely were.
15:55 <Torokasi> The group is mostly standing around Ary, who is slumped onto the floor against the wall, Janda kneeling next to him and examining his throat as Para seems to hover nearby nervously. Solmyr glances over, his face relatively calm. "He's sitting to try and keep strength, not because he can't stand. We couldn't convince him to take the armor off."
16:00 <@AutumnCrow> "That was before we got back, now Janda's here and needs his armor off so she can examine him properly and I'm here in case we're suddenly attacked," Crow nods to Solmyr with a calm tone, "I'll keep guard for now, Para you can go back and help Lilian finish investigating the room back there, Solmyr you have some basic medical knowledge yes? Assist Janda. Ary get your armor off so she can
16:00 <@AutumnCrow> examine you."
16:02 <Torokasi> Ary seems to blink into awareness at Crow's voice, attempting to stand before Janda practically pushes him back down to the floor with one hand. Solmyr nods. "I'll help get the armor off." Para seems reluctant to move, but eventually heads back into the other room with Lilian. Mare moves to help Solmyr as well with getting the armor off.
16:04 <@AutumnCrow> Crow keeps only half her attention on them, as she is actively standing guard like she said she was going to. Hopefully her vigilant state will help Ary relax even just a bit.
16:07 <@AutumnCrow> "Janda, you're the one qualified to make the call on if Ary needs to go back to basecamp or not. And if he does, we all do and just get some rest until he's feeling better. I'd rather waste a day than take on these xorns at less than full strength."
16:10 <Torokasi> After a minute or two, Janda mutters a few spells, examining him afterward. "... We're going to need to fall back to basecamp. I don't want him fighting and making his condition worse. It's not a poison, and it's not manifesting like any disease I know - no sweating, no elevated body temperature, nothing. Rest may help him get back to fighting shape."
16:11 <Torokasi> Ary murmurs "I just need ten minutes, please. Will be ready to go after that." Despite this, he doesn't fight as Solmyr and Mare finally get the armor off him, Mare wrinkling her nose a bit.
16:12 <@AutumnCrow> "You're resting until Janda gives you the clear, I'm not going to risk your life to stubbornness, nor the lives of those who stand behind you and count on you to stop the enemy. You ARE the front line, if you remember."
16:13 <Torokasi> "Thought you and I were." Ary's voice has a hint of humor in it, but he shakes his head after a second and lets his head drop. "...five minutes and I'll be ready to head back to camp."
16:15 <@AutumnCrow> "Well I'm not the one who soaks up hits, and I don't have the bulk to stop one of those things from running right past me. My weapon barely stings them if I'm not using Desert Wind fire techniques. Here we're going to have to rely more on you, Marion and Solmyr."
16:17 <Torokasi> Ary doesn't respond, as his breathing evens slightly. Janda shakes her head. "I can't help but think about that xorn that exploded on him... I don't know enough about their properties to really estimate if that could cause it."
16:17 <Torokasi> Solmyr shrugs. "I've hit my limit on elemental knowledge today. We can try to ask Uhlemi back at base cam-"
16:18 <Torokasi> Behind them, the door to the room Lilian and Para are in slams suddenly shut.
16:18 — @AutumnCrow takes a deep breath, then sighs.
16:18 <@AutumnCrow> "Of course."
16:20 <Torokasi> Janda blinks in panic, before Lilian's voice is audible, "We're fine, Janda! I don't know how that triggered - there's more than one glyph in here! We'll be right back, I hope!"
16:20 <Torokasi> The horrific grinding sound picks up, sounding actually less grating, as Lilian's voice is drowned out.
16:21 <@AutumnCrow> "Taking them somewhere else probably. All we can do from here is wait."
16:22 <Torokasi> Solmyr sighs, before flopping down and opening up his own backpack. "Let me see if I can find any good info on xorns..."
16:27 <Torokasi> The room is quiet for a bit, save Solmyr flipping through pages, but after a minute the grinding noise stops and Solmyr blinks. "Xorn acquire a liquid texture when working with certain manmade materials, and proper stress may cause them to explode into what is effectively mud on death. This mud possesses no magical properties, but may induce a state of hallucination and exhaustion for up to 24 hours and is sometimes used as a drug for that reason."
16:28 <Torokasi> "That... sounds like a match."
16:31 <@AutumnCrow> "...so you're saying the xorn exploded on him and got him high?"
16:32 <Torokasi> "I mean." Solmyr looks back down at the book. "It sounds like a bad trip from the details, if anything. Worse than some I've had."
16:33 <Torokasi> "No hallucinations so far." Ary murmurs again, causing Mare to jump a bit in surprise. "Just exhaustion."
16:39 <@AutumnCrow> "Well that's good at least. And now we'll know to be careful about that stuff getting on us."
16:41 <Torokasi> "It's only if ingested thankfully, and hopefully he didn't get a large dose." Solmyr closes it. "Still, exploding mud elementals is not really a definition of a fun time."
16:41 <Torokasi> The room behind them starts its grinding sound again, as Janda breathes a sigh of relief.
16:42 <@AutumnCrow> "Not particularly, no. While Ary's resting it off, lets see if we can rig some cloth masks for everyone so nothing accidentally gets in our mouths."
16:45 <Torokasi> "Right." Mare and Janda get to work on that as Ary rests, the door behind them eventually opening as the noise stops. "It seems that there was a...psionic? item in whatever box Para moved that triggered the dumb thing. We found a third, as well. Glyph, I mean." Lilian says as she opens the door, the first few words barely audible. "I hate that room now, but it looks like that glyph is the way forward."
16:47 <@AutumnCrow> "We've discovered that Xorn goo is a hallucinatory substance that also induces exhaustion. So we're just going to let Ary rest it off for now."
16:49 <Torokasi> "... Oh. Well, that explains that." Lilian shrugs, looking at Ary as Para scurries from behind her to next to Ary.  After a moment, "We've got our lead forward, then. Let's rest for the night and hope Ary shakes it off?"
16:52 <@AutumnCrow> "That seems wise. Para, give Ary a hand walking and lets head back to camp."
16:55 <Torokasi> The group packs up without further discussion, Para helping Ary up and Solmyr supporting his other shoulder as the group moves back, Lilian glancing around at the team as they go. About halfway there, Uhlemi is audible, "...one of your members has fallen ill?"
16:56 <@AutumnCrow> "He ingested some Xorn goo, yes." Crow responds calmly.
16:57 <Torokasi> "I will make a note of this. These properties were not known to our database." Uhlemi responds. "No xorns in general proximity. Your trip should be safe."
17:00 <Torokasi> The group makes it back to the metal-enclosed room, Janda helping Ary as Para and Solmyr set him down, Mare and Lilian checking outside the room in both directions before coming back in with a shrug.
17:04 <@AutumnCrow> Crow goes to where the cooking station is set up and starts getting a pot of water going on the hotstone to make some tea, figuring Ary could probably use that.
17:05 <Torokasi> Lilian sits next to Crow with Mare beside her as Janda keeps working with Ary. "...Para's acting weird, isn't he?"
17:08 <@AutumnCrow> "A little bit, yes," Crow nods to Lilian and responds quietly. "He's acting like a mother hen over Ary, which is certainly unusual."
17:10 <Torokasi> "I think I know what's going on, but." Mare shakes her head, glancing to Crow and Lilian as she speaks as softly as they. "...It's not something that we can do much about."
17:12 — @AutumnCrow sideeye's Mare, "do you now?"
17:13 <Torokasi> "I'm more surprised that you're suggesting we stay out of it..." Lilian murmurs.
17:14 <Torokasi> Mare glances over to Para, who still seems to be hovering over Ary with concern, before, "I think he has a crush on Ary."
17:15 <@AutumnCrow> "Interesting. When I joined the team he seemed to have a crush on me, but behaved very differently about it. More shy, less...this." Crow shrugs, still keeping her voice low, "I suppose we'll find out with how he reacts to Nyci next time we're back in town."
17:17 <Torokasi> "I think he... ugh. Iunno. I don't think he's honest with himself about this." Mare shakes her head, before, in a normal voice, "Is the tea ready, by chance?"
17:19 <@AutumnCrow> "Almost." Crow prepares the cups while the tea finishes steeping and then pours, letting Mare take one over to Ary if she wants.
17:21 <Torokasi> Mare nods slightly and takes the tea, walking it over to Ary and chatting with them quietly. Lilian takes a cup as well, but shakes her head. "He definitely had a crush on you, or was acting like it... this just seems weird, but what do I know?"
17:30 <@AutumnCrow> "Quite a lot actually, but I doubt any of us know enough about Para. He could also be feeling anxious about the time fragment, since he is planning to use that here."
17:31 <Torokasi> "...could be, yeah. We'll find out, maybe." Lilian shrugs. "Let's rest up and hope he's ready to go by tomorrow? Ary, I mean. Can't worry about much right now."
17:34 <@AutumnCrow> "If he keeps it up when Ary's better tomorrow, I'll talk to him about it. Otherwise it can wait till we're back in town." Crow nods, and sips her own tea.
17:35 <Torokasi> "Right." Lilian nods slightly. "Need any helping hands while cooking?"
17:36 <@AutumnCrow> "Not really, but I never mind you keeping me company anyway," Crow smiles, and gets the cooking process started.
17:37 <Torokasi> "Understood." Lilian nods with a smile.... <More>
17:39 <Torokasi> After a while, Janda comes over and gets a cup of tea. "He's started hallucinating, but it seems benign - just random objects or people in the wrong place for a few moments and we have to remind him they're not there. Seems ready to sleep. Solmyr is talking with him to try and keep him grounded until he falls asleep."
17:41 <@AutumnCrow> "I suppose it's good I'm not dreamwalking until I can deal with that curse, I'd hate to see what drug addled Ary dreams of."
17:43 <Torokasi> "Heh." Janda chuckles wryly. "Indeed, probably for the best."
17:50 <Torokasi> "Let's hope that Sath's sense of irony isn't that cruel." Lilian comments, drinking her own tea.
17:50 <@AutumnCrow> "If the temple is any indication, Ary doesn't dress gaudily enough to get Sath's attention either way."
17:55 <Torokasi> Lilian chuckles. "Fair enough..." The meal is served, and even Ary eats a  little bit as the group winds down for the day.... OOC: Will save for Crow.
17:58 <@AutumnCrow> OOC: ...that would be a freaking 30. Nat 20 on the save. now I will botch my first attack roll, watch.
18:01 <Torokasi> The night passes uneventfully, people keeping watch as needed with Uhlemi's assistance, and Crow wakes up early to Lilian yawning a bit. "Final watch done, but sleep a bit longer if you want, Crow. Everyone else is out like a light."
18:02 — @AutumnCrow puts an arm around Lilian, pulling her in, "well I'm awake now, may as well put some water on." Then she gets up to do just that, and start making breakfast preparations. Quietly.
18:05 <Torokasi> Lilian returns the hug, nodding quietly, before getting back up and looking outside. As the water heats, Ary is the first to lumber over, shirtless and looking like he would be mistaken for hung over. "Morning, Crow. Sorry about last night."
18:07 <@AutumnCrow> "Let that be a lesson to be careful about what you put in your mouth," Crow deadpans, then smiles and pulls the food pack over, "even with the hotstone, I can only boil one pot at a time. And I have enough coffee ground for exactly one pot, which seems like today will be a good use for. Coffee first or oatmeal first?"
18:09 <Torokasi> "Oatmeal, please. I... feel better now, but I'm rather hungry." Ary admits. "...also, did you dreamwalk to me last night?"
18:10 <@AutumnCrow> "I did not. Still cursed, remember? Not dreamwalking until we get back to the city, if I can help it."
18:12 — @AutumnCrow starts the oatmeal, as requested.
18:13 <Torokasi> "Right. I didn't figure that was you..." Ary shakes his head. "A... piece of the dream involved you, but unlike everything else, I couldn't tell for sure if it was you or not - dreamwalking and all - but."
18:14 <@AutumnCrow> "Go ahead, I'm hardly going to be upset about anything strange dream-me did," Crow encourages while continuing her prep.
18:16 <Torokasi> "The dream-you just attacked me. I managed to fend you off as well, and as I said I figured it wasn't you, but." Ary just shakes his head.
18:21 <@AutumnCrow> "Well the fact that you could do it certainly means it wasn't me," Crow smirks.
18:22 <Torokasi> "There is that." Ary snorts. "I was thinking maybe it was a side effect of it being my dream.... ...though that never helps against Solmyr or, by Sath, Lilian."
18:56 <@AutumnCrow> "Do you fight your teammates in your dreams often?"
18:57 <Torokasi> "...it's been a constant the past sixth months." Ary admits. "Honestly, I-"
18:57 <Torokasi> Solmyr pops down next to Ary, nudging him as he looks over. "How're you doing, big guy?"
18:58 <Torokasi> Ary shakes his head. "I'm better, now. Just sort of feeling the equivalent of hung over."
19:01 <@AutumnCrow> "Well, some breakfast should help that I hope."
19:03 <Torokasi> "Hopefully." Ary nods as Solmyr quietly cheers, Lilian snickering from the door. Mare pads over as well at this point, while Para and Janda... still slumber, curiously, neither stirring to the rising, if still low, amounts of noise.
19:08 <Torokasi> After a bit, Lilian walks over to Janda as the oatmeal finishes, nudging her quietly to make her stir slightly.
19:10 — @AutumnCrow bowls the oatmeal up for everyone, adding things show knows people like to thier bowls.
19:10 <Torokasi> Mare looks to Ary. "Up for fighting today?"
19:11 <Torokasi> Ary nods slightly, taking the bowl from Crow with thanks. "Yeah, should be. Let's just avoid ingesting that shit, though, alright?"
19:15 <@AutumnCrow> "Yeah, we should have some cloth around our mouths when we fight them now."
19:16 <Torokasi> "Makes sense." Ary nods. "...Uhlemi, any noise from them?"
19:17 <Torokasi> "They have moved further away again." Uhlemi reports, Janda jumping into a sitting up position nearly instantly. "I do not know where they are going at this point, but will keep an eye on the borders near your proximities."
19:20 <@AutumnCrow> "Right. Let's get ready and then see where those glyphs take us today. Para? Are you..." Crow looks over to see if Para is even awake after Uhlemi speaking up.
19:21 <Torokasi> Para... is still sleeping, not having stirred at Uhlemi's statement. Lilian wanders over and nudges him with a foot, which makes him mumble but doesn't wake up immediately.
19:27 <Torokasi> Mare frowns. "People seem to be having sleeping issues, don't they? You had some earlier, Ary, Para now, and Janda too..."
19:27 <@AutumnCrow> "...Janda, please see if you can figure out if anything's wrong with Para. He is normally quick to rise and was acting oddly yesterday."
19:30 <Torokasi> Janda nods slightly and moves to check on him as he slowly, groggily, wakes up, rubbing his eyes and moving his mouth though seemingly not saying anything. Janda shakes her head after a moment. "Just sleepy?"
19:30 <Torokasi> "Yeh. Sorry." Para murmurs.
19:35 <Torokasi> Mare shakes her head after a moment. "Well, maybe it's just a coincidence."
19:43 <Torokasi> The group slowly assembles back together, Para still taking a while to get to the oatmeal but eating it as fast as normally, and after breakfast he's the one to glance to Crow. "Let's get going?"
19:45 <@AutumnCrow> "We're getting back to exploring here, see waht you can do about mapping considering that strange glyph room that seems to take us to other hallways."
19:47 <Torokasi> "Lilian and I went to the right path by touching that glyph, right?" Para asks Uhlemi. "Should I presume we went 'down' there?"
19:47 <Torokasi> "Correct." Uhlemi replies. "It is back within my range as well."
19:51 <Torokasi> "Should we... expect to leave your range again?" Lilian questions.
19:52 <Torokasi> "Uncertain. I was unable to determine what was outside my range until I tested it there, but at least for now you are within range there." Uhlemi explains.
19:52 <@AutumnCrow> "Well, that's something at least. Once we're there, see if you can explain what the glyphs do to help with the mapping."
19:56 <Torokasi> "They move the room to a new position." Uhlemi states unhelpfully as everyone packs up.
19:59 <@AutumnCrow> "We gathered that. The question is where does each glyph move the room to."
20:02 <Torokasi> "The glyph on the right as you enter leads to a private bar and restaurant area. The middle one leads to the lower passage that will connect to the part of the complex you were in last time, and the left one connects back out to the ship harbor."
20:06 <@AutumnCrow> "...well, alright. So where do we want to go first?"
20:07 <Torokasi> "Take the middle passage, and head back to the place where you helped repair us previously. I will guide you from there." Uhlemi states.
20:08 <@AutumnCrow> "That answers that question."
20:09 <Torokasi> Para nods, Ary re-donning his armor as the group heads out...
20:11 <Torokasi> --------------------------------

Taishyr

~Torokasi> ------------------------------------------------
16:44 <~Torokasi> The trek back is entirely quiet, the group chatting quietly but otherwise making time toward the moving room. On arrival, the second glyph on the wall is barely visible through the boxes and barrels on the opposite wall. Lillian gestures everyone in. "The first few steps outside should be safe, but Para and I went no further, so..." she explains. "Let's be on guard from here."
16:49 <AutumnCrow> "I think after the last few surprises we should just be on guard period at this point," Crow quips, while keeping one hand wound in her scarf.
16:51 <~Torokasi> Janda, the last in, frowns slightly. "Well, that does make sense. Hopefully it's not too far to the previous safe ground we found...?"
16:52 <~Torokasi> Lilian nods as Janda enters. "Didn't sound like it, but Uhlemi is rather vague on distance..." With that, she nods to Para, who touches the glyph! The room rumbles as the door slams shut, slowly feeling like it's ascending..."
16:58 <AutumnCrow> "That's true, certainly."
16:58 <AutumnCrow> "Rather vague on a lot of things."
17:00 <~Torokasi> "Maybe someone could teach them to be more talkative." Ary elbows Para slightly.
17:01 <~Torokasi> After a minute, the room comes to a shuddering halt, Lilian swinging open the door to another hallway... before blinking. "These... pock marks in the hallway weren't here previously." The hallway ahead looks as if the acid creature had been here, ground and walls covered in the signature acidic pock marks, with the door itself most heavily coated. The exit to the next room is near-entirely dissolved, hinges weakly connected to pieces of rock.
17:03 <AutumnCrow> "...well, that officially qualifies as Not Good." Crow fully unwinds her scarf, not willing to strike an acid creature with her non-enchanted weapons.
17:08 <~Torokasi> Solmyr and Para advance forward as Ary pulls back, grimacing. The group edges forward, before the smell of rotten eggs washes over the hallway and room, Janda gagging slightly. Solmyr glances to Crow as the three fish out the fabric for covering their noses, "Should we scout ahead and try to get rid of this thing?"
17:13 <AutumnCrow> "That's probably the best idea, yes." Crow nods, and steps forward, "Para lead the way, Solmyr behind me. The rest of you wait here for now while we look ahead."
17:14 <~Torokasi> "Got it." Lilian mutters as three step back. Mare nods as well, before, "I'll keep the flanks clear then?"
17:15 <AutumnCrow> "That's fine."
17:16 <~Torokasi> "Right." Mare nods at this as Para, Solmyr and Crow advance forward. -More-
17:19 <~Torokasi> The next room in is.. a mess. What used to be barrels and boxes litter the room, and on top of the wreckage sits a larger ooze creature, vaguely four-legged but without any formation of other limbs, approximately the size ofd
17:19 <~Torokasi> OOC: Strike
17:21 <~Torokasi> The next room in is.. a mess. What used to be barrels and boxes litter the room, and on top of the wreckage sits a larger ooze creature, vaguely four-legged but without any formation of other limbs, approximately the size of a large dog. It rises to its legs, wobbling slightly, before a vaguely jaw-like formation emerges from the ooze! OOC: It's definitely hostile. Init.
17:22 <AutumnCrow> OOC: Crow Init 11, Para Init 19
17:25 ~Torokasi set the topic: Init: Para > Solmyr > Oozedog > Crow
17:26 <~Torokasi> OOC: Para
17:28 <AutumnCrow> Para will plink an arrow off at the ooze creature and hope that does something, then he'll move back a bit so that he's not in front if it charges! (OOC: Single Shot, Attack 22, damage 8 piercing, non magical(doesn't have metaphys weapon up yet))
17:29 ~Torokasi set the topic: Init: Para > Solmyr > Oozedog (3 damage)  > Crow
17:34 ~Torokasi set the topic: Init: Para > Solmyr > Oozedog (20 damage)  > Crow
17:35 <~Torokasi> The dog seems to shudder as the arrow sinks in, but the ripples seem to do little damage to its frame! Solmyr raises his hand and lets loose three electric bolts of force, which rip through the dog as well - it toddles, suddenly shaky on its feet, but suddenly seems to let out a piercing cry from the jaw before spitting acid at the trio! OOC: Ref saves
17:36 <AutumnCrow> OOC: Crow - 22 Ref(Evasion), Para - 18 Ref, Solmyr- 12 Ref(I figure I can do saves for everyone at least)
17:37 <~Torokasi> OOC: Appreciated, yeah
17:39 ~Torokasi set the topic: Init: Para (39/44) > Solmyr (32/43) > Oozedog (20 damage)  > Crow
17:39 <~Torokasi> Crow dives out of the way without issue, and Para is only lightly sprayed, but Solmyr isn't so lucky and gets hit by all the acid! Down the hall, Janda's yelp can be heard...! OOC: Crow.
17:44 <AutumnCrow> "Unfortunately it saw us at the same time!" Crow calls back to the others, then moves up and focuses her mind on whatever seems like a weak point of the slime...the mouth? The mouth. With a burst of flame, her scarf snaps outward towards the beast! (OOC: Insightful Strike + Burning Blade. Attack...15. Do I need to bother rolling damage?)
17:48 <~Torokasi> OOC: Sadly, no.
17:52 <~Torokasi> The beast barely rears its entire... everything back, collapsing in on itself to avoid the scarf missing it by millimeters! Crow can hear the rest of the group advancing... as two more slime-dogs poke their head in from around the corner! OOC: The rest of Crow's team will make it in on her init.
17:52 ~Torokasi set the topic: Init: Para (39/44) > Solmyr (32/43) > Oozedog (20 damage)  > Crow > Oozedog 2 > Oozedog 3
17:53 <~Torokasi> OOC: Para's turn.
17:59 <AutumnCrow> Seeing that his arrow shot didn't do a whole lot, Para focuses his mind on his bow, hoping that the psionic power will let it hurt them more. Then being an archer he tries to find a spot where he won't be in the way of the others  moving in.
17:59 <AutumnCrow> (OOC: activates Metaphysical Weapon)
18:04 <~Torokasi> Para scuttles to the side of the room, lining up his shot as Solmyr begins flinging more arrows, starting with the clearly injured one...!
18:07 <~Torokasi> The first one takes a glancing blow, but that's all it takes for it to dissolve in on itself, as the remaining two arrows fly toward the dog most into the room from the next hallway, causing it to shudder slightly from the impact!
18:07 ~Torokasi set the topic: Init: Para (39/44) > Solmyr (32/43) >  Crow > Oozedog 2 (9 damage) > Oozedog 3
18:07 <~Torokasi> OOC: Crow
18:10 <AutumnCrow> Staying in, Crow grumbles at the slimes ability to fold in on itself to dodge in a manner she was not accostomed to, then moves in to snap at the second one after Solmyr's dart struck it. (OOC: Just a single attack I suppose. Attack...11. Okay solmyr, this one's all you.)
18:13 <~Torokasi> Crow's attack misses again as the slime basically splits in two to dodge it, Ary, Mare, Janda and Lilian entering the room! OOC: Moment.
18:14 ~Torokasi set the topic: Init: Para (39/44) > Solmyr (32/43) >  Crow > Ary > Mare > Lilian > Janda > Oozedog 2 (9 damage) > Oozedog 3
18:15 <~Torokasi> OOC: Ary. If he doesn't want to act and rather guard the team, lemme know and I'll act through to Para.
18:16 <AutumnCrow> Ary seems to have the hardest time dealing with the smell, so he'll hang back unless it sounds bad up there.
18:21 <~Torokasi> Ary hangs back as Mare looses an eldritch blast at the one she saw Crow aiming for! The blast of energy sinks in, causing the green to turn a sickening color, but the creature is still shakily standing as Lilian and Janda also take up position to heal and defend the group!
18:21 ~Torokasi set the topic: Init: Para (39/44) > Solmyr (32/43) >  Crow > Ary > Mare > Lilian > Janda > Oozedog 2 (18 damage) > Oozedog 3
18:22 <~Torokasi> The injured oozedog, meanwhile, looks and lunges in toward Crow, a sickening green jaw opened wide! OOC: AC?
18:23 <AutumnCrow> OOC: 21
18:28 <~Torokasi> But the bite is too timid, clasping down a fair foot away from Crow! Meanwhile, the other slime creature seems to hesitate, before spitting a cone of acid waste at Solmyr and the newcomers! OOC: Solmyr and Ary, reflex? I can check Mare/Lilian/Janda
18:30 <AutumnCrow> OOC: Para Ref - 19, Ary and Solmyr fail to break 10
18:35 ~Torokasi set the topic: Init: Para (39/44) > Solmyr (21/43) >  Crow > Ary (47/58) > Mare (27/32) > Lilian (25/30)> Janda (26/31) > Oozedog 2 (18 damage) > Oozedog 3
19:36 <~Torokasi> The caustic breath nails Ary and Solmyr, whose bulky bodies manage to shield Mare, Lilian and Janda from the worst of the acid! OOC: Para
19:39 <AutumnCrow> Now with his metaphysical weapon effect active, Para will hope his arrows do more damage! He shuffles to the side, calls a warning to Ary and Solmyr to move out of his line of fire, and snaps off two shots at the slime who just breathed on them! (OOC: Rapid Shot. Attack 1 - 16, damage 7 if that hits. Attack 2 - 9)
19:41 ~Torokasi set the topic: Init: Para (39/44) > Solmyr (21/43) >  Crow > Ary (47/58) > Mare (27/32) > Lilian (25/30)> Janda (26/31) > Oozedog 2 (18 damage) > Oozedog 3 (7 damage)
19:43 <~Torokasi> The first arrow sinks in cleanly, but the second arrow the slimedog bites out of the air, dissolving it between its teeth as the team watches! Solmyr launches another set of three arrows...! The first two manage to rupture and destroy the dog attacking Crow, while the final plinks at the remaining acid-spitting dog!
19:43 ~Torokasi set the topic: Init: Para (39/44) > Solmyr (21/43) >  Crow > Ary (47/58) > Mare (27/32) > Lilian (25/30)> Janda (26/31) > Oozedog 3 (11 damage)
19:43 <~Torokasi> OOC: Crow.
19:46 <AutumnCrow> Stepping to teh side away from the rest of teh team so the ooze could not catch all of them in a breath, Crow snaps her scarf out with a swift 1-2 crack at the slime she's facing. (OOC: Flurry. Attack 1 - 19, 10 damage(bludgeoning, magic), Attack 2 - 24, 6 damage)
19:49 <~Torokasi> The ooze dog crumples and falls apart under the fury of Crow's assault, quickly splitting it into harmless chunks! OOC: Free act.
19:50 <AutumnCrow> "Well...that happened. I will uncharactaristically invoke a deity to swear by Ratokyst these things smell awful," Crow deadpans, "invoking the god of disease seems the only oath that does these things justice."
19:55 <~Torokasi> Lilian smiles halfheartedly as Janda begins working to heal the team up. "Let's hurry on and away from this damnable smell, yes."
20:03 <~Torokasi> The rest of the group seems to be trying to handle the smell, Ary visibly gagging, but Para quickly checks into the next corridor. "We're clear from here." he mutters. "Hallway is damaged, though."
20:04 <AutumnCrow> "Uhlemi can you hear us from here?"
20:05 <~Torokasi> "I can. Currently attempting to determine the source of the acid creatures." Uhlemi replies.
20:05 <AutumnCrow> "Well, that's exactly what I was going to ask you to do, so carry on I suppose."
20:15 <~Torokasi> Uhlemi is silent another moment, before, "I believe they're coming from ... rogue living spells. This makes the upcoming repairs an urgent priority. I believe that we can now access the room where the proper Overcore is, to reconnect it."
20:17 <AutumnCrow> "Guide us there," Crow fishes getting the slime off her scarf(thank goodness for magical resistance to mild acids) and wraps itr back around her waist.
20:20 <~Torokasi> "Understood. It is one floor beneath where you performed previous repairs. Continue down the hallway, then turn right and go down the stairs." Uhlemi states.
20:21 <AutumnCrow> "Janda, heal up anyone who needs it first, just in case."
20:25 <~Torokasi> Janda nods, finishing up her healing  with a light tap on Ary's shoulder. "We're good to go."
20:34 <~Torokasi> Para nods slightly and leads the group onward, down the hallway. The intersection makes it clear which direction this batch of acid creatures came from; the left path bears the pitting and scars of the leftover acid, while the right path is clean as the group heads down it, down and down for what feels like two floors or three, taking the winding stairwell downward into a small connecting hallway. [More]
20:42 <~Torokasi> In front of the group is... a pulsing green rock, holding itself upright in midair, in a large chamber with metal cords stretched out everywhere. A white platform similar to what Crow used previously sits near the hovering rock, and multiple entrances to the room dot the curved walls. Uhlemi comments, "This is the Alchemy Overcore. Functioning irregularly, in ways similar to the Defense Overcore. Repairs will need to be enacted directly."
20:46 <AutumnCrow> "So...Para when you repaired the Defense overcore you had to fight something, right?"
20:51 <~Torokasi> "Ye...s." Para comments. "It was a... mental fight to piece things together while the Defense Overcore was struggling? I don't recall much, due to the magic."
20:52 <AutumnCrow> "I presume you'd like to leave this one to me?" Crow actually cracks a smile.
20:53 <~Torokasi> "Uh. Yes. Or if we can work together, but yes." Para grins back.
20:55 <AutumnCrow> "That's fine." Crow smirks and steps towards the rock...
20:56 <~Torokasi> --------------------------------------------

Taishyr

[2018-08-14 16:40:21] <Torokasi> -----------------------------------------------------------------
[2018-08-14 16:43:34] <Torokasi> The white platform sits silently as Para steps onto it, turning to Crow as she approaches... OOC: Will save.
[2018-08-14 16:44:12] <AutumnCrow> OOC: Will save 19
[2018-08-14 16:45:16] <Torokasi> OOC: At this point I will remind you that you have hero points if you want to use one on a reroll.
[2018-08-14 16:46:44] <AutumnCrow> OOC: Hmm. Alright I'll burn one. New save...18. Horray rerolling a 9 into an 8. <_>
[2018-08-14 16:53:50] <Torokasi> Para's eyes widen as Crow steps onto the platform, his voice suddenly horrifically deep and low, "Crow...? ...Crow-" But the rest of his words are drowned out by the rushing of wind and the pulsing of Crow's heart as she blacks out. <More>
[2018-08-14 16:58:24] <Torokasi> Crow awakens to the familiar haze of the Dream, a small circle of white around her - and as far as she can see, the rest is black, geysering tar, spewing forth from the ground and sky itself. Where the doors of her allies' dreams would be if they were sleeping, instead there are gates slammed shut, barraged and drowning in the sticky ooze. The only other thing of note is a faint light instead of a door where Para was standing.
[2018-08-14 16:59:44] <AutumnCrow> "Ah, so we're dealing with this now, are we?" Crow sighs and pulls the bit of the weeping lady's purity out of her pocket to look at it and consider what can be done with all this ooze.
[2018-08-14 17:04:33] <AutumnCrow> Unable to think of anything and unwilling to risk the purity against the ooze all on its own, Crow proceeds over to where the light that should be Para's door is and examines it.
[2018-08-14 17:05:35] <Torokasi> The purity is... glowing, its light seemingly the source of the circle pushing the tar away. The light in Para's position seems to react as well, glowing more strongly and pushing the tar away from Crow a bit further. Within the tar, something seems to be stirring...
[2018-08-14 17:06:44] — AutumnCrow keeps an eye on what seems to be stirring, but also touches the purity to Para's light to see what happens.
[2018-08-14 17:12:57] <Torokasi> Crow can see what looks like a tentacle begin to rise out of the tar, but as the two points of light touch, there is a sudden flash, and a door appears. An open one. The tar tries to surge toward it, but the purity of the Weeping Lady and the light now surrounding the door seem to keep it at bay for now, even as what surfaces seems to be a horrific creature of the ooze, wearing the alchemist's sneer! "My, my... to give me so much fuel for my hate!"
[2018-08-14 17:15:12] <AutumnCrow> "I really don't have the patience for you right now," Crow replies calmly, "just sit tight while I find a mop or something." And then she ducks into Para's door(and closes it behind her if possible)
[2018-08-14 17:18:59] <Torokasi> Crow dives into the dream, before turning to try and close it...! OOC: Reflex save.
[2018-08-14 17:19:17] <AutumnCrow> OOC: Ref 26. That's more like it
[2018-08-14 17:24:44] <Torokasi> And immediately flipping backwards as a massive stone column slams into the door, crushing it underneath its mass! Looking around, Crow seems to be in a deep circular valley made entirely of stone. The pillar in front of her begins to slowly rise up, the door vanished beneath it. At the valley's ridge seems to be a series of glowing lights and lines, rising up to a strange black 'sun' in the sky.
[2018-08-14 17:26:37] <AutumnCrow> "A valley of stones for Para, hmm? Can't say I predicted that." Crow looks around for anything that looks like a building, person or other point of interest as she makes her way up towards the ridge and the lights there unless she sees something more promising.
[2018-08-14 17:34:27] <Torokasi> The entire surface is... curiously smooth, with few stray rocks or debris, and the rising pillar falls again in place with a crash as Crow ascends. The path to the ridge is not that steep, thankfully, and a few jumps to higher ledges get her past steeper pieces. At the ridge is... nothing. The ridge extends thirty feet outward, flat stone all the way, before suddenly ending , the lights and lines pulsing in the air around them. <More>
[2018-08-14 17:36:44] <Torokasi> The only thing of note that Crow immediately spots is another stone bowl with a pillar slamming into it in the distance, far across the gap. As she looks over at it, the lines seem to adjust themselves to "connect" the two valleys... before Lilian's voice can be heard in the distance, "...Crow! Crow, wake up..."
[2018-08-14 17:38:52] — AutumnCrow shrugs and calls back as if it will do any good, "Can't right now sweetie, trying to find something to fight off a goo monster!"
[2018-08-14 17:39:42] — AutumnCrow then enters her Step of the Wind stance for better balance and footing and lightly moves across the gap to reach the second bowl.
[2018-08-14 17:43:05] <Torokasi> Crow steps forward without hesitation... and is practically whisked across the expanse to the second valley! In this valley, surrounding the slamming pillar, there is a small house. Actually, there are many of the same small house, seemingly duplicated over and over without fail, with the wreckage of more houses practically ground into fine chunks under where the pillar lands, over and over.
[2018-08-14 17:44:53] <AutumnCrow> "Build dozens of the same house so it doesn't matter if the pillar crushes a few? That takes a certain kind of stubborn spite..." Crow wonders if she's still in Para's mind or if she's moved to Ary's somehow.
[2018-08-14 17:45:11] <AutumnCrow> She then walks into the valley and looks for a house that has someone in it maybe?
[2018-08-14 17:50:34] <Torokasi> The first two houses have entries facing each other, so Crow quickly glances in both - and sees Para in both, in one shirtless, cooking at a small oven, at the other sleeping in a small cot. The one at the oven looks at Crow briefly, before turning to his cooking again. A third Para emerges from a house a few ahead, draws an arrow on a non-visible bow, fires it into the sky away from Crow, then heads back into the house.
[2018-08-14 17:52:45] <AutumnCrow> "I should have expected something like this." Crow sighs and...then knocks on the doorway of the cooking Para, waiting before she's aknowledged before entering.
[2018-08-14 17:58:08] <Torokasi> The Para within doesn't seem to respond, still stirring at a pot. After a moment, however, he puts the spoon in the pot and looks to Crow. "... ...I am not cooking right now. Therefore, I wait. I wait until I am cooking. Then I am used." With that, he returns to stirring the pot.
[2018-08-14 17:59:00] <AutumnCrow> "Really now. Can you tell me which house has the Para that handles complicated psionics?"
[2018-08-14 18:05:22] <Torokasi> "..." The Para seems to not respond to this again, before, "He is being used by this place. He is trying to focus on talking to you with I. His mind is here, but he cannot bridge the connection to you."
[2018-08-14 18:07:08] <AutumnCrow> "Hmm." Crow nods and heads out, looking for an empty parahouse that shoudl be the one that the his psychic mental partition 'lives' in.
[2018-08-14 18:13:00] <Torokasi> The houses all seem to have some Para in them - working, whittling, writing, exercising, climbing invisible rocks, practicing archery - a few times Crow has to step aside to dodge an arrow or an axe swing by a mindless Para copy, but there seems to be no hostility toward Crow, as the pillar thunders down in the distance. Nearing the edge of the town, Crow spots a Para sitting in focus, his eyes glowing as one of his powers makes them do - elfsight?
[2018-08-14 18:14:39] <AutumnCrow> Crow knocks on the doorway, "Para, I need some psychic help if you can spare a moment. Presuming this is the right house for that."
[2018-08-14 18:18:16] <Torokasi> Crow watches as Para's eyes slowly open, before his entire body seems to shudder. "Crow, you're... in the Alchemy Overcore? How?"
[2018-08-14 18:20:34] <AutumnCrow> "I got pulled into the Dreamspace by that curse thing again. Apparently trying to connect with the overcore uses the same...process, I suppose, and it got me this time. I've moved into your mental space, don't know how long I have." Crow talks quickly, "If you remember the purity shard I said I got from Janda's dream, I need something like that from yours as well. For her it was easy, the
[2018-08-14 18:20:34] <AutumnCrow> purity of the Weeping Lady is what she would use to oppose a curse. But what would you use?"
[2018-08-14 18:32:01] <Torokasi> "Uhhh..." Another brief spasm. "You're... this isn't s'posed to be my mental space. To oppose a curse... give me a moment..." The copy of Para spasms again before... suddenly solidifying. "...I don't know. If you can lure it in... I may be able to... ... Lure it into the mortar and pestle..."
[2018-08-14 18:32:52] <AutumnCrow> "...I can lure it into the empty one back there if you can control the pillar to crush it. I'm not letting it here where your selves are though, it will kill you."
[2018-08-14 18:38:24] <Torokasi> "These... aren't me." Para manages to eke out. "Copies... I think. I don't know. Ugh. Trying to focus. ...I'd fight back however I could, but I don't have any specific tools. I can only time the pillar here to help."
[2018-08-14 18:40:08] <AutumnCrow> "...alright, if you're sure it's safe. I'll open a door and see if it wants to dance." Crow pulls the purity shard back out, "is there anything the alchemy overcore can do with this, or that you can? Possibly combine it with the pillar to make a purifying smasher?"
[2018-08-14 18:42:43] <Torokasi> It takes a long time before Para can manage to say, "... I don't know. The Alchemy Overcore isn't listening to me well. Be careful."
[2018-08-14 18:44:24] <AutumnCrow> "As careful as I can be," Crow pulls out her scarf and...tries to use her dream princess powers to attach the purity shard to the scarf, willing the scarf to become a sacred implement of Janda's belief in the Weeping Lady in her hands.
[2018-08-14 18:46:54] <Torokasi> The fragment flashes in Crow's hands for a moment... OOC: Will check
[2018-08-14 18:47:09] <AutumnCrow> OOC: Will 22
[2018-08-14 18:50:12] <Torokasi> The two snap together with a bright burst, the scarf now a pure bright blue in Crow's hands! OOC: +2 to hit, +5 to-dam with the scarf while Crow's using it for this fight.
[2018-08-14 18:50:53] <AutumnCrow> Crow then goes to find a likely space...and focuses her will to open a door back out.
[2018-08-14 19:01:00] <Torokasi> Crow positions herself adjacent to the slamming mortar in the center of the bowl, and attempts to create a door back out into her dream - and manages all too easily, the ooze seeming to hesitate for only a moment before slamming through the other side of the door! Para's voice can be heard, "Tell me when I need to slam it down - I'll hold it up until then!" OOC: Init
[2018-08-14 19:01:59] <AutumnCrow> OOC: just crow or for para as well?
[2018-08-14 19:04:33] <Torokasi> OOC: Crow. Para amounts to a field effect here right now.
[2018-08-14 19:04:47] <AutumnCrow> OOC: Init 19
[2018-08-14 19:11:17] * Torokasi set the topic to Init: Crow > Bugbear Ooze Zombie 1 > Ooze Alchemist > Bugbear Ooze Zombie 2
[2018-08-14 19:13:18] <Torokasi> The doorway shudders, before two large masses of ooze slam through it, stumbling in toward Crow! Behind them, the alchemist laughs foully! OOC: This is not exactly dream territory per se, and the ooze dudes have some sort of advantage like you do. Treat this like normal combat in the physical realm for the moment, albeit with the buffed scarf.
[2018-08-14 19:14:02] <AutumnCrow> Crow adjusts her scarf and takes stock of the ooze pouring in, "Well now, shall we dance? Do try and keep up, you weren't all that entertaining of a fight the first time."
[2018-08-14 19:15:55] <Torokasi> OOC: Is that holding for their actions?
[2018-08-14 19:16:11] <AutumnCrow> OOC: No trying to figure out what to do for maximum value
[2018-08-14 19:16:55] <AutumnCrow> OOC: Can I tumble to teh other side and harrass the alchemist while making the bugbears provoke AoOs to get in on me? Scarf reach and all.
[2018-08-14 19:20:10] <Torokasi> OOC: That'd involve going into the dream proper, but yes, if you make the tumble.
[2018-08-14 19:20:37] <AutumnCrow> OOC: Ah, nevermind then. I thought the alch was inside too.
[2018-08-14 19:21:46] <AutumnCrow> Crow adjusts her stance back and to the side, making the alchemist have difficulty seeing her without entering the door himself, then prepares to smack the bugbears as they come in. (OOC: Move, ready an action to attack the first bugbear who gets into range)
[2018-08-14 19:23:55] <Torokasi> The alchemist's laugh changes to a growl as the first bugbear ooze slops its way toward Crow, seeming to try to rush her! OOC: Take your action, and also AC on the offchance it gets a turn?
[2018-08-14 19:25:57] <AutumnCrow> Crow snaps her scarf in a blistering one-two combo at the first bugbear as it approaches! (OOC: Readied action goes off and AoO for moving through my threat range to get in on me, unless these bugbears have reach. Attack 1 - 21, 16 damage ow. AoO Attack(if they have reach, ignore): 19, 13 damage. AC is 21)
[2018-08-14 19:37:37] <Torokasi> The first blow causes it to shudder, and the second collapses half of it in on itself, but it still oozes forward... and then sort of whiffs its attempt to slam Crow, body twitching as the alchemist snarls, its face peering through the doorway! The second bugbear ooze approaches as well, but due to its ally can't reach Crow in time! OOC: Crow. Both oozes are in range.
[2018-08-14 19:40:25] <AutumnCrow> Crow steps to the side slightly, snapping out her scarf at the injured slime and stepping back into a sweeping slash to the other! (OOC: Flurry of blows. Attack 1 vs hurt oozebear...31 with a crit threat. Oozes are immune to crits aren't they? 14 prolly doesn't confirm anyway, 15 damage. Attack 2 vs fresh oozebear 18, 12 damage)
[2018-08-14 19:44:10] * Torokasi set the topic to Init: Crow (4 taken) > Ooze Alchemist > Bugbear Ooze Zombie 2 (12 taken)
[2018-08-14 19:52:55] <Torokasi> The first bugbear crumples under Crow's finishing blow, while the second shudders at the blow! The alchemist howls, its tentacled body emerging from the doorway, but still not fully through! Meanwhile, the second ooze attempts to slam into Crow but misses entirely, hitting the scarf instead!  OOC: Crow.
[2018-08-14 19:55:31] <AutumnCrow> Crow again shifts diagonally away from the ooze attacking her, using slight angles to maintain superiour positioning, wrapping the ooze's protruding limb that struck the scarf into it and torqing to try and simply rip the thing apart with her purifying weapon! (OOC: unnessesarily fluffy Flurry. Attack 1 - 19, 13 damage, Attack 2 - 18, 15 damage)
[2018-08-14 19:56:18] <AutumnCrow> "I'm not sure what these things are supposed to be, but you're going to need better minions." Crow deadpans as she rips into the oozebear.
[2018-08-14 20:00:07] <Torokasi> The alchemist howls as another of his minions falls... OOC: Moment, need to check something.
[2018-08-14 20:02:08] <Torokasi> OOC: Roll a... you know what? you're not bluffing but putting on a show. Perform (Dance) check.
[2018-08-14 20:02:57] <AutumnCrow> OOC: 31. Yay for rolling a 17~
[2018-08-14 20:07:37] <Torokasi> The alchemist screams, "FINE! I'll rip into your flesh MYSELF, girl!" With that, the entirety of the alchemist - an oozing, black, many-tentacled abomination - squelches through the doorway, his face looking at Crow with disgust. "I could drown you in those damn things, but why bother when my own two hands can prove sufficient enough?!"
[2018-08-14 20:09:19] <AutumnCrow> "I'm not sure what you have now can really be called hands." Crow quips, "and really, an alchemist threatning to go close quarters with the heir of the Autumn Temple? Even arrogance should have its limits."
[2018-08-14 20:13:34] <Torokasi> "Little brat! Who cares about your outdated temple and talents? The Mist will be devouring your home soon enough, I'm sure - they've no use for those who refuse it!" OOC: It is Crow's action, he took his turn to come into this place fully.
[2018-08-14 20:14:23] <AutumnCrow> "Hmm, I wonder." Crow concentrates on the door to remove it, ideally trapping the alchemist in there with her.
[2018-08-14 20:19:50] <Torokasi> "You wonder- what?" The alchemist blinks, before its tentacles turn  toward the door vanishing in front of its eyes. "What is this?! You think you can lay some trap?" With that, its tentacles lash toward where the door is... OOC: It's taking its action to try and reopen the door, so... opposed Will check.
[2018-08-14 20:23:53] <AutumnCrow> OOC: Will 25!
[2018-08-14 20:25:05] <AutumnCrow> "I wonder whether or not even the mist can overcome the strength of spirit of the Autumn Temple. Or if it even wants to. I've spoken with yeek, actual denizens of the mist who surely know more about it than you, who don't seem to feel the same way."
[2018-08-14 20:26:07] <AutumnCrow> "And further...interesting how you claim you can destroy me so easily, and yet when I close the door your first thought is to reopen it instantly. As if you actually do not wish to face me without an escape route handy."
[2018-08-14 20:29:45] <Torokasi> The alchemist's attempt fails as he turns, scowling, to Crow. "Ch... fine! Then stand and fight, worm!"
[2018-08-14 20:32:24] <AutumnCrow> "I've been fighting, you're the one taking your sweet time." Crow shifts into an evasive stance, "but as you wish. Shall we begin?" (OOC: shifting to Winter stance to increase AC to 23)
[2018-08-14 20:40:08] * Torokasi set the topic to Init: Crow (28/37) > Ooze Alchemist
[2018-08-14 20:41:17] <Torokasi> The alchemist roars and charges, one tentacle come slamming down onto Crow! OOC: Crow's action. It's 10ft away now from Crow.
[2018-08-14 20:42:44] <AutumnCrow> OOC: so I do have baffling defense as an option to try and dodge when an attack hits me, it's an immediate counter.
[2018-08-14 20:43:08] <Torokasi> OOC: Oh. Then that's an option, yes. Sorry, I forgot about that - do you want to take it?
[2018-08-14 20:43:40] <AutumnCrow> OOC: Yup. Sense Motive check of...28. Makes my AC 28 vs this one attack.
[2018-08-14 20:44:00] <Torokasi> OOC: Okay, editing. Strike damage and last line.
[2018-08-14 20:44:26] * Torokasi set the topic to Init: Crow (33/37) > Ooze Alchemist
[2018-08-14 20:45:51] <Torokasi> Crow begins shifting left, only to dodge to the right at the last moment as the charging alchemist's tentacle lands in air! As the alchemist howls... OOC: Crow. It's still 10ft away.
[2018-08-14 20:49:07] <AutumnCrow> Continuing her shift to the right, Crow lashes out her scarf with a single searing snap that seems to channel her spiritual energy straight through even as it erupts in flames! (OOC: Emerald Razor + Burning Blade. 5 into Expertise to bring my AC up to 28. Attack 22 hitting TOUCH AC, damage 12+4(FA) +6 fire.)
[2018-08-14 20:49:27] <AutumnCrow> OOC: er, DS, Discipline Strike. FA is something else.
[2018-08-14 20:51:48] * Torokasi set the topic to Init: Crow (33/37) > Ooze Alchemist (28 taken)
[2018-08-14 20:56:21] <Torokasi> The alchemist howls as its tentacles are roasted, screaming in pain even as its tentacles lash out at Crow to try and bring her down! OOC: Do you have any added defenses or is it just the 23 AC?
[2018-08-14 20:56:44] <AutumnCrow> OOC: 5 into expertise brings my AC to 28 this round.
[2018-08-14 20:57:32] <Torokasi> OOC: I am fantastic at reading.
[2018-08-14 21:00:11] * Torokasi set the topic to Init: Crow (21/37) > Ooze Alchemist (28 taken)
[2018-08-14 21:00:58] <Torokasi> The writhing tentacles come swarming in, and while the alchemist's swings mostly go wide, two tentacles manage to slam straight into Crow's body despite her dodging, knocking the wind out of her as the alchemist begins to laugh again! "Can you keep this up, worm?!"
[2018-08-14 21:02:19] <Torokasi> OOC: Crow.
[2018-08-14 21:04:43] <AutumnCrow> "Hmph, well done." Crow rolls with the blow and returns to a fighting stance, "I suppose I'll have to start taking you seriously." She lashes with her scarf, a single attack to test his defenses, and then evades backwards with a fast retreating step, "you'll find the question is can YOU keep up?" (OOC: Attack 18, damage 13. Then move away, Tumble check 22(DC to tumble away is usually just 15
[2018-08-14 21:04:43] <AutumnCrow> so...))
[2018-08-14 21:07:03] <AutumnCrow> OOC: Still have 5 in expertise, forgot to say that. AC is still 28
[2018-08-14 21:08:59] <Torokasi> The alchemist catches the blow on a tentacle, but the scarf swings down hard enough to practically break it, a sickening thwick sound as the ooze basically cracks and falls off! Scowling, the alchemist charges affter Crow again, "Don't even test my patience, girl!" Charging in, another tentacle swing goes wide over Crow's head...! OOC: He charged in to re-engage. Crow's turn, he's back to within 10ft
[2018-08-14 21:12:08] <AutumnCrow> "Why would I test something you clearly possess none of?" Crow replies flatly as she snaps in another blow and again rolls away, "that would just waste both of our time, and I have more manners than that." (OOC: Same as last round. 5 in Expertise, smack and roll. Attack 19, damage 15. Tumble 17)
[2018-08-14 21:13:12] * Torokasi set the topic to Init: Crow (21/37) > Ooze Alchemist (56 taken)
[2018-08-14 21:15:40] <Torokasi> The alchemist howls as Crow's blow lands and she skitters away! "I tire of this...!" With this, his tentacles lash out toward where the door had been...! OOC: Opposed Will check
[2018-08-14 21:16:10] <AutumnCrow> OOC: Will only 18. However
[2018-08-14 21:16:16] <AutumnCrow> "Para? Now."
[2018-08-14 21:20:46] <Torokasi> The door slams open, a geyser of ooze pouring out - and then the pillar of stone slams onto the door and the alchemist alike, Crow standing as planned just outside the radius of the stone. Black ooze spurts out from underneath the pillar, barely anything more than a small puddle - and then the pestle flashes, and the ooze burns up even there.
[2018-08-14 21:21:03] <Torokasi> Para's voice is hazy, "Oh. You remembered."
[2018-08-14 21:21:13] <Torokasi> OOC: Free act.
[2018-08-14 21:21:57] <AutumnCrow> "It's all about timing." Crow smirks, "you'll have to be smarter than that to trap a crow."
[2018-08-14 21:22:27] <AutumnCrow> Focusing, she tries to retrieve the purity shard from her scarf.
[2018-08-14 21:25:03] <Torokasi> The shard seems to easily pop right out of the scarf, resting in her hand again. Para's voice can be heard, but it's incoherent from where Crow's standing.
[2018-08-14 21:26:05] <AutumnCrow> (OOC: is there any ooze left on this side at all?)
[2018-08-14 21:28:05] <Torokasi> As the pestle raises again, there seems to be a few small, isolated puddles of black ooze on the ground, the remainder having been scoured away by the pillar's power.
[2018-08-14 21:28:44] <AutumnCrow> Crow walks over to them and runs the purity shard over them to wash away the last bits of the ooze's taint.
[2018-08-14 21:31:20] <Torokasi> The ooze disintegrates without any issue, Para commenting barely audibly, "I'll keep this up until you're done."
[2018-08-14 21:32:33] <AutumnCrow> Crow finishes and walks back to where psychic-para's house is, "Alright, that should take care of that. Should I try to do anything else from in here or return to the stage and try to wake up?"
[2018-08-14 21:35:48] <Torokasi> "Try to wake up unless... you can work with the lines from here." Para manages to stutter out.
[2018-08-14 21:37:57] <AutumnCrow> "Work with...the lines." Crow looks up back to where she crossed the gap from, and the lines up there, "...I'll go see if I can, if not I'll try to wake up."
[2018-08-14 21:38:11] <AutumnCrow> Then she goes back up towards the lines that connected the two bowls.
[2018-08-14 21:40:32] <Torokasi> --------------------------------------------

Taishyr

~Torokasi> As Crow reapproaches the rim of the pestle bowl, the glowing lines in the darkness seem to shift, one gnarl of yellow, green and black lines approaching Crow. Para can be heard above, "...working on this one... focus on the black line..." It seems to pulsate in front of Crow gently as she watches, the entire place quiet now.
17:02 <AutumnCrow> As she walks up, Crow fiddles with her scarf, seeing if she can take the shard of purity back out of it to store back in her pockets in case she needs it again.
17:03 <AutumnCrow> Then she eyes the lines, focusing on the black one as instructed, trying to see where it goes.
17:05 <~Torokasi> OOC: Will save to try and get that one to move as desired
17:06 <AutumnCrow> OOC: Will 20
17:15 <~Torokasi> The line squirms under Crow's focus before, eventually,  snapping into a set of straight lines and rigid angles, the yellow and green curves still pulsing around it! Para seems to mutter a surprised oath before, "...I think I've got the green and yellow from here... can you reach any of the other tangles?" From Crow's location there seem to be two other along the rim - a blue and yellow tangle connected to the current tangle, and an orange and
17:15 <~Torokasi> green tangle seemingly independent from the rest of the web.
17:16 <AutumnCrow> "There's a blue and yellow one that's connected to this one, and a green and orange one off by itself," Crow calls back, "which should I go for first? The connected one?"
17:18 <~Torokasi> "Yes, try that one first..." Para replies distantly.
17:19 <AutumnCrow> Maintaining her stands, Crow strolls over to the connected tangle and studies the lines, mentally trying to figure out where the knots are before she tries to straighten them out.
17:21 <~Torokasi> OOC: Another Will save as you try to work them out
17:21 <AutumnCrow> OOC: Another 20. Apparently I'm taking 10 today?
17:28 <~Torokasi> The yellow line snaps into place, followed slowly by the blue line lazily untangling itself and re-connecting at proper angles with the yellow line. Suddenly, the entire thing seems to jerk away from Crow, as Para can be heard, "...Got it. You said you saw.... green and orange one? Try that next."
17:30 <AutumnCrow> "Alright," Crow picks her way over towards the last tangle she can see and repeats the process, studying it for a bit before trying to straighten out one line so the other can work itself out.
17:31 <AutumnCrow> OOC: Will...14. Not the direction away from 10 I wanted, die.
17:40 <~Torokasi> This set seems more resistant to Crow's mental pull, but the green line at least responds, beginning to untangle itself from the mess of lines before freezing in place, Crow feeling a strong tension on the line!
17:41 <AutumnCrow> "Hmm...these ones don't seem to want to untangle, Para. The lines feel...dangerously tense, like they could snap at any moment. What should I do?"
17:46 <~Torokasi> "Agreed. The line I'm on... is the same way. Are there any... connections?" There are lines going into the darkness, but none seem to immediately be gnarled at a moment's glance... OOC: Notice if you want
17:46 <AutumnCrow> OOC: Ahahaha what? You mean my +0 check? Notice 6.
17:52 <~Torokasi> Nothing jumps out at a second look around, either, but while Crow is distracted, she can feel the green line pull underneath her mental focus! Para mutters, "Yeah... it's tight as a drum right now."
17:53 <AutumnCrow> "Hmm," Crow mentally reaches out to test the green line, gently, trying to determine where the tension is coming from.
17:54 <~Torokasi> OOC: I'm.... going to call this an Int check.
17:55 <AutumnCrow> OOCL ...9. Crow's apparently just not getting this one.
17:59 <~Torokasi> The line still seems to be taut, pulsing at near-regular intervals, almost as if Crow was pulling on it.
18:09 <AutumnCrow> "It's...like I'm pulling on it from somewhere else at the same time as I'm testing it here..." Crow sounds utterly mystified, "What even is this line?"
18:16 <~Torokasi> "That's... bizarre." Para comments. "Why are we... both stuck on this one?"
18:16 <AutumnCrow> "...are we pulling on it at the same time from different directions?" Crow deadpans, "is that the problem?"
18:19 <~Torokasi> Para doesn't respond, but mere moments later, Crow feels the tension drain from the line...! OOC: Will check again
18:22 <AutumnCrow> OOC: Will 20, oh hey back to rolling 10.
18:25 <~Torokasi> This time, the lines smoothly snap into place with their familiar shapes and angles, a faint orange aura tinting the air as they do so! From below, one more, larger tangle seems to rise, Para's voice distant. "The Overcore... is functional. Not sure what this is. Should we get you out?"
18:27 <AutumnCrow> "Well, that's a giant tangle." Crow shrugs, "Let me see if I can straighten this one out too, if it showed up at the same time as the Overcore becoming functional, it may be a connection to other overcores? Then I'll head out."
18:28 — AutumnCrow starts to study the new tangle~
18:29 <~Torokasi> OOC: Another Will check
18:31 <AutumnCrow> OOC: 14. lul
18:33 <~Torokasi> This tangle... doesn't seem to budge as Crow focuses on it, a lousy mess of purple, black, orange, green, red and yellow. No one color seems to snap into place or be willing to cooperate all that well, unlike before.
18:35 <AutumnCrow> "Well, whatever this is, it's fairly uncooperative. Let's just remember it's here in case we need to mess with it later." Crow shrugs again and then turns to head back down to level ground where she can open a door back to the dream safely away from any overcore tangles.
18:44 <~Torokasi> "Understood." Para confirms as Crow returns down to relatively flat ground and begins to open a door to the Dream...! OOC: One more Will check
18:50 <AutumnCrow> OOC: ...and there's the nat 20. 30. Crow is the mistress of ollie outie apparently.
19:00 <~Torokasi> The gateway opens - and Crow can see the black ooze practically blast away from the doorway and the surrounding area with the force of the opening door.
19:02 <AutumnCrow> OOC: Was crow able to extract the purity shard from the scarf, or are they still combined?
19:05 <~Torokasi> OOC: Yeah, they're separateable.
19:06 <AutumnCrow> Crow holds the purity shard out in front of her like a charm against the black ooze while looking around to see if there seems to be any intelligence controlling the ooze. She wants to make sure that the oozechemist was properly squashed instead of managing to escape at the last second.
19:07 <~Torokasi> The ooze seems to be well and truly keeping its distance from the door, and doesn't seem to be trying to move forward or sneak around Crow... OOC: Notice check to look around
19:10 <AutumnCrow> OOC: Notice...12!
19:12 <~Torokasi> There really doesn't seem to be anything other than the remnants of the black ooze and Crow in the dreamscape.
19:29 <AutumnCrow> Crow moves around poking at the various bit of ooze, with the purity shard firmly in grip, to see if it responds at all.
19:32 <~Torokasi> The ooze seems to want to stay firmly away from Crow, purity shard or no, and recoils away from her regardless of how close she tries to step to it.
19:35 <AutumnCrow> "Hmm...well I'll just have to hope it's done with." She makes sure the door to para's brain(?) is well and truly closed then tries to wake up!
19:36 <~Torokasi> Closing the door behind her, Crow wills herself awake...! <More>
19:41 <~Torokasi> "...sounded like she'd be trying to wake up..." Crow can hear Para's voice first, sort of miserable sounding, as she feels herself... resting against Lilian, it seems? An awkward position since her feet feel like they're only just becoming unglued from the platform Para's standing on, but it seems Lilian found some way to support her. "Not sure why she hasn't come to yet."
19:42 <~Torokasi> "Give it time." Lilian says with confidence. "She's probably just figuring something out first."
19:47 <AutumnCrow> "The dream stage was still full of curse goo," Crow explains while stretching her feet to get feeling back in them, "I was trying to see if it was going to attack me again."
19:51 <~Torokasi> "Oh!" Lilian jolts, helping Crow stretch as the rest of the team gathers around. "Para explained things from his point of view - the alchemist attacked but you managed to get him crushed beneath a... giant pillar Para was holding up? Well, if the curse slime is still there, there's still some risk, but..."
19:53 <AutumnCrow> "Honestly I'm not really worried," Crow smirks, but doesn't dislodge herself from Lilian's lap, "he was all force, no skill. I only needed Para's help to stop him from getting away, I was cleanly winning that fight."
19:55 <~Torokasi> "Fair enough. Dreams are your turf, after all." Mare chuckles, before, "So, uh, the Alchemy Core is online. What does this do for us?"
19:57 <AutumnCrow> "Honestly I have no idea, but every overcore we can get active is progress, right?"
20:01 <~Torokasi> "Yeah. And based on the name I'd presume it'd do... some sort of material transmutation?" Solmyr offers. "Could be useful if we need minerals of a certain type or something?"
20:11 <AutumnCrow> "I suppose. Alchemy is out of my area of expertise, I'll leave that to you."
20:23 <~Torokasi> "So... what now?" Ary asks after a moment. "Clear out the remaining threats in the area, re-establish contact with the Overcores, and ... get Para his chance to sync up with us time fragment-wise before heading out?"
20:28 <AutumnCrow> "That sounds about right, just add finish mapping out what we can to that," Crow nods and finally gets up out of Lilian's lap, stretching again for good measure.
20:38 <~Torokasi> Mare nods slightly. "Let's prioritize recontacting the Overcore first so we can get eyes back on the xorns? Or is there a better idea?"
20:45 <AutumnCrow> Crow groans, "I'd almost forgotten about the xorns after getting pulled in to deal with that moronic alchemsit's curse. Yes, we need eyes on those or we'll never get anywhere."
20:46 <~Torokasi> Ary grins a bit sadistically. "If you taste one, you'll never forget it, believe me."
20:48 <AutumnCrow> "I'm reasonably certain my evasive skills are sufficient to ensure that doesn't happen," Crow deadpans in return.
20:48 <~Torokasi> "Whiiiich is a good reason not to." Lilian smiles at Ary. "Yes, though, let's see about recontacting the Overcore. I had thought we'd regain contact when we repaired the Alchemy Overcore, but... maybe if we retrace our steps we'll get in touch?"
20:53 — AutumnCrow nods, "Let's do that. I'm still a bit disoriented, whoever has a good handle on the layout so far lead the way."
20:56 <~Torokasi> Ary nods slightly and leads the way, accompanied by Mare, back into the complex... <More>
21:01 <~Torokasi> The group heads up the small hallway and into the winding stairwell, climbing about a story before Uhlemi is audible, "...reaction in room E326-A118. All containment personnel, please proceed to room E326-A118. This message will repeat. There has been a chain reaction in room E326-A118. All containment personnel, please proceed to room E326-A118. This message will repeat."
21:03 <AutumnCrow> "Going to need you to guide us to that room, Overcore." Crow sighs, "also what happened?"
21:12 <~Torokasi> The message continues repeating, but the Overcore somehow interrupts itself mentally as it explains, "The acid creatures have gotten into a vat of chemicals, and while they seem to be.... congealed and stuck in place, the risk for further damage remains high, and the damage caused to the room and surrounding rooms is extensive."
21:15 <AutumnCrow> "...so we need to go kill them, yes? Mare, if they're stuck in place this should be trivial for you. Ary, Lilian and I will make sure if any do get unstuck they can't rush you. Best to fight these things with magic anyway, and you don't run out."
21:20 <~Torokasi> "Right." Mare nods, the rest of the group also confirming. "This sounds tame enough."
21:35 <~Torokasi> An orb of purple light appears in front of Ary and Mare, shimmering as it advances up the stairs. "Follow the orb to the destination." Uhlemi states, before the background drone of Uhlemi's voice becomes audible again.
21:38 — AutumnCrow unwinds her scarf as she walks, ready for combat just in case a xorn pops out of a wall like the worst jack-in-the-box of all time.
21:42 <~Torokasi> The group trudges up the stairs and down an acid-pitted hallway with various side doors, eventually arriving at a three-way intersection. There is obviously supposed to be a door present, but it's been corroded down to nothing but splinters and rusted metal. Uhlemi cuts in again as the light travels east, "Be careful. I am sensing movement in the area besides the creature in the congealed vat."
21:44 <AutumnCrow> "Naturally. Gods forbid something in this place be easy to deal with," Crow sighs without even a hint of surprise.
21:45 <~Torokasi> "Everyone else has to get their exercise somehow." Mare deadpans.
21:48 <~Torokasi> Solmyr glances at the group, wrapping a bit of cloth around his face. "Figure we may want to block as much of the smell as we can."
21:51 <AutumnCrow> "Ugh, yes, that smell is horrible," she follows suit with some stray cloth of her own.
21:54 <~Torokasi> The rest of the group follows suit, preparing to head into the nest of the enemy...

Taishyr

@Torokasi> The group moves into the eastern wing, the acrid smell already starting to hit their noses through the cloths as they step inward. Ahead is... an dog-like ooze, shambling slowly towards them - and at their advance, its head swells and pops, causing an echo throughout the hallway! OOC: Roll initiative. All you can see for now is the one large dog-ooze about 30ft in front of you.
17:36 <AutumnCrow> OOC: Ary 21, Crow 16, Para 14
17:39 @Torokasi set the topic: Init: Janda > Ary > Crow > Oozewolf 1  > Mare > Para  > Solmyr > Oozewolf 2 > Oozewolf 3 > Oozewolf 4 > Lilian > Oozespawner
17:42 <@Torokasi> In the distance, Crow can hear three separate popping sounds, followed by a hollow *THUD* from just behind the wall in front of them and to the left. Janda winces slightly, before beginning to sing, a grim nod to Crow and Ary at the front line... OOC: Ary.
17:47 <AutumnCrow> Ary takes his katana in a low guard, takes a deep breath that he holds to avoid smelling slime splatter, and charges the slime dog! (Battle Leader's Charge, 3 into PA. Attack: 21. Damage 28. Ary's AC is 12 thi sturn)
17:48 @Torokasi set the topic: Init: Janda > Ary > Crow > Oozewolf 1 (2/30) > Mare > Para  > Solmyr > Oozewolf 2 > Oozewolf 3 > Oozewolf 4 > Lilian > Oozespawner
17:52 <@Torokasi> The wolf is cleaved into terribly, its body trembling with the force but somehow still staying together! To his right, Ary can see three more oozewolves in the neighboring room and to the left- to the left, calling it a congealed vat would be kind. A massive, solid gelatinous mass of ooze practically fills the room, having knocked out pieces of the wall to make space for itself to expand outward! Ary looks back to Crow, "Hostiles on the right
17:52 <@Torokasi> and, uh, one big one on the left!"
17:54 <AutumnCrow> "Focus magic on the big one, melee for the minions," Crow calmly gives her orders while moving into the room, slightly to the right of Ary, and snapping her scarf at the wobbled oozedog. (Move and single attack. Attack 19. Damage 8, using Spring's Step. Crow is in Winter Step of the Wind stance, for AC 23)
17:55 <AutumnCrow> OOC: The idea is that the oozewolves will have to provoke from Crow to reach Ary, covering his area with her scarf, etc.
17:56 <@Torokasi> OOC: Got it.
18:00 @Torokasi set the topic: Init: Janda > Ary > Crow > Mare > Para  > Solmyr > Oozewolf 2 > Oozewolf 3 > Oozewolf 4 > Lilian > Oozespawner (13 taken)
18:00 <@Torokasi> Crow's strike is enough to dissemble the ooze, it splashing apart on the floor! Mare nods and moves in to where she can see the slime in the left room, before shooting a pale grey beam...! That only barely touches the ooze, but leaving a large burn mark on contact, the ooze visibly shrinking away from the beam!
18:00 <@Torokasi> OOC: Para
18:02 <AutumnCrow> Para moves into the room and places himself between Mare and where the wolves might have any line of approach to her, then snaps off a single shot to the wolf furthest in the back on the right. (Move, single shot. Attack 15?. Damage 11 if that hits.)
18:03 @Torokasi set the topic: Init: Janda > Ary > Crow > Mare > Para  > Solmyr > Oozewolf 2 > Oozewolf 3 > Oozewolf 4 (19/30) > Lilian > Oozespawner (13 taken)
18:12 <@Torokasi> The arrow hits loosely but manages to knock a chunk off as Solmyr moves up too, chanting briefly before chucking an orb of electricity at the slime mass - that hits it square in the center, practically exploding a chunk of it into minuscule pieces! [More]
18:13 @Torokasi set the topic: Init: Janda > Ary > Crow > Mare > Para  > Solmyr > Oozewolf 2 > Oozewolf 3 > Oozewolf 4 (19/30) > Lilian > Oozespawner (33 taken)
18:14 <@Torokasi> The first wolf lunges at Crow, but is easily kept at arm's length by her motions! The second goes for Ary...! OOC: Crow can take her AoO
18:16 <@Torokasi> OOC: Wait, and first one would also have option of AoO since you're using reach weapon, right? Sorry, I'm slow
18:17 <AutumnCrow> OOC: Yup, she gets 1 on each. (AoO 1: Attack 27. Damage 9. AoO 2: Attack 15. Damage 7.)
18:19 @Torokasi set the topic: Init: Janda > Ary > Crow > Mare > Para  > Solmyr > Oozewolf 2 (21/30) > Oozewolf 3 (23/30) > Oozewolf 4 (19/30) > Lilian > Oozespawner (33 taken)
18:22 @Torokasi set the topic: Init: Janda > Ary (46/58) > Crow > Mare > Para  > Solmyr > Oozewolf 2 (21/30) > Oozewolf 3 (23/30) > Oozewolf 4 (19/30) > Lilian > Oozespawner (33 taken)
18:22 <@Torokasi> The lashes from Crow's scarf slam into the two oozewolves, causing ooze to go flying from both! The second wolf still manages to get in and bite at Ary, who yelps as the acidic bite burns through his armor!
18:23 <@Torokasi> Meanwhile, the third wolf starts bubbling, before a cone of acidic slime sprays out onto the two oozedogs, Ary, Crow, and Para!
18:23 <@Torokasi> OOC: Reflex
18:24 <AutumnCrow> OOC: Ary 17, Crow 22, Para 21
18:24 <AutumnCrow> OOC: Crow has Evasion, the other two do not
18:25 @Torokasi set the topic: Init: Janda > Ary (40/58) > Crow > Mare > Para (41/44)  > Solmyr > Oozewolf 2 (24/30) > Oozewolf 3 (26/30) > Oozewolf 4 (19/30) > Lilian > Oozespawner (33 taken)
18:33 <@Torokasi> The acid sprays out over the group, Para deflecting most of it with a well-timed hand swipe and Ary enduring it while Crow simply ducks, but it's Lilian's voice that alerts the group, "Shit! The ooze's spray - it seems to be patching up the other constructs! Be careful!" With that, Lilian moves in front of Solmyr to shield him, eyeing the giant ooze as it shifts... [More]
18:41 ↔ AutumnCrow nipped out 
18:43 <@Torokasi> The ooze seems to swell up from its center, before a creature emerges from it - this one walking on two legs, taking a significant amount of the Oozespawner's mass with it as it lumbers five feet forward! The entire thing seems to stand ten feet tall, looming over Ary and the rest of the group...! Janda gulps but continues performing, preparing herself to move forward if needed!
18:43 @Torokasi set the topic: Init: Janda > Ary (40/58) > Crow > Mare > Para (41/44)  > Solmyr > Oozewolf 2 (24/30) > Oozewolf 3 (26/30) > Oozewolf 4 (19/30) > Lilian > Ooze Golem > Oozespawner (123 taken)
18:44 <@Torokasi> OOC: Ary
18:47 <AutumnCrow> OOC: Are two of the wolves next to eachother?
18:49 <@Torokasi> OOC: 1 and 2 are.
18:49 ↔ AutumnCrow nipped out 
18:59 <@Torokasi> OOC: 1 and 2 are.
19:01 <AutumnCrow> Ary steps close to the pair of oozewolves that attacked him and Crow, and slams out a powerful swipe right through the both of them! (OOC: 5ft step, Steel Wind, 2 in PA. Attack 1: 17, damage 16. Attack 2(vs next wolf): 16, Damage 16. Don't think this kills any for cleave purposes.)
19:02 @Torokasi set the topic: Init: Janda > Ary (40/58) > Crow > Mare > Para (41/44)  > Solmyr > Oozewolf 2 (8/30) > Oozewolf 3 (10/30) > Oozewolf 4 (19/30) > Lilian > Ooze Golem > Oozespawner (123 taken)
19:02 <@Torokasi> The two wolves trembles as the swipe goes straight through them, but manage to hold themselves together! OOC: Crow
19:07 <AutumnCrow> "Tch," Crow looks back over her shoulder to see the freaking goo golem emerge, "...fine. Ary, Para, you two hold here, Lilian help them. I'll keep the big one busy." Then she gracefully spins away from the wolves and towards the goolem, lashing out with a measured strike designed more to distract than injure. (OOC: Tumble away, got a 20 so I'm fine. Attack Goolem, 3 into Expertise. Attack:
19:07 <AutumnCrow> 13. No way that hits, but Damage 8 anyway???? Crow's AC is now 25. Ary's is back up to 14 btw)
19:07 <AutumnCrow> OOC: Crow is between the golem and any of her allies. She's RIGHT up on it, basically daring it to full attack her.
19:09 @Torokasi set the topic: Init: Janda > Ary (40/58) > Crow > Mare > Para (41/44)  > Solmyr > Oozewolf 2 (8/30) > Oozewolf 3 (10/30) > Oozewolf 4 (19/30) > Lilian > Ooze Golem (82/90) > Oozespawner (123 taken)
19:10 <AutumnCrow> (....you're shitting me, a 13 hits? What's its dex, 6?)
19:11 <@Torokasi> OOC: 9. Its natural armor is negated by its size partially, though. It's not hard to hit stuff off of, basically.
19:18 <@Torokasi> The scarf slaps a piece of slime off the ooze golem but fails to phase it, Mare flicking her eyes between the golem and the spawner before...  "Damnit! Solmyr, let's make sure this piece of shit can't make any more of these guys!" With that, she fires another blast of grey energy at the ooze spawner, causing another burn to appear on its surface!
19:18 @Torokasi set the topic: Init: Janda > Ary (40/58) > Crow > Mare > Para (41/44)  > Solmyr > Oozewolf 2 (8/30) > Oozewolf 3 (10/30) > Oozewolf 4 (19/30) > Lilian > Ooze Golem (82/90) > Oozespawner (136 taken)
19:18 <@Torokasi> OOC: Para
19:20 <AutumnCrow> Leaving Ary to handle melee with presumably Lilian backup, Para braces and takes aim at one of the wolves Ary slashed so it can't retreat to breathe goop on them! (Rapid Shot. Attack 1: 24. damage 4. Attack 2: 17, damage 10.)
19:22 @Torokasi set the topic: Init: Janda > Ary (40/58) > Crow > Mare > Para (41/44)  > Solmyr > Oozewolf 2 (8/30) > Oozewolf 4 (19/30) > Lilian > Ooze Golem (82/90) > Oozespawner (136 taken)
19:26 @Torokasi set the topic: Init: Janda > Ary (40/58) > Crow > Mare > Para (41/44)  > Solmyr > Oozewolf 2 (8/30) > Oozewolf 4 (19/30) > Lilian > Ooze Golem (82/90) > Oozespawner (149 taken)
19:26 <@Torokasi> The wolf is shot twice, quickly, falling apart with little fanfare as Solmyr curses, throwing another orb at the spawner that hits with decidedly less impact, frying off a small piece! [More]
19:31 @Torokasi set the topic: Init: Janda > Ary (27/58) > Crow > Mare > Para (41/44)  > Solmyr > Oozewolf 2 (8/30) > Oozewolf 4 (19/30) > Lilian > Ooze Golem (82/90) > Oozespawner (149 taken)
19:33 @Torokasi set the topic: Init: Janda > Ary (27/58) > Crow > Mare > Para (41/44)  > Solmyr  > Oozewolf 4 (19/30) > Lilian > Ooze Golem (82/90) > Oozespawner (149 taken)
19:33 <@Torokasi> The first oozewolf lunges in to bite at Ary, again drawing blood, while the one injured by Para earlier lunges at him but misses entirely! Lilian steps in and slashes at the injured oozewolf Ary is harassed by, and with the flat of her blade manages to splatter it apart! [More]
19:42 @Torokasi set the topic: Init: Janda > Ary (27/58) > Crow (22/37) > Mare > Para (41/44)  > Solmyr  > Oozewolf 4 (19/30) > Lilian > Ooze Golem (82/90) > Oozespawner (149 taken)
19:42 <@Torokasi> The goolem shifts slightly toward Crow and attempts to slam its entire mass into her, but Crow's stance allows her to dodge the first one! Not the second, however - it manages to correct for Crow's dodge and crashes into her,  almost sending her reeling!
19:46 <@Torokasi> The oozespawner emits a loud *POP* before the entire floor seems to tremble... Janda looks to Ary and Crow, sizing them up, getting ready to dash in if either take another hit! OOC: Ary
19:50 <AutumnCrow> Ary focuses on getting rid of these wolves, moving in on the one attacking Para to strike it with full power from behind! (OOC: move and hit, 5 into PA. Attack: 17, damage 22. Splat.)
19:51 @Torokasi set the topic: Init: Janda > Ary (27/58) > Crow (22/37) > Mare > Para (41/44)  > Solmyr > Lilian > Ooze Golem (82/90) > Oozespawner (149 taken)
19:52 <@Torokasi> The wolf practically explodes, some of the slime hitting the cloth over Para's mouth! Para's eyebrow quirks slightly. OOC: Crow.
19:55 <AutumnCrow> Crow staggers back without much grace from the grazing hit that still knocked the wind out of her, "Hmph...hard to track this thing's movements...not used to fighting things that slosh." Still, she swayed one way and then stepped the other, lashing out her scarf with a rapid double snap to the shoulders hoping to disrupt its motion. (OOC: Flurry, still with 3 in expertise. Also Burning Blade.
19:55 <AutumnCrow> Attack 1: 16, damage 9 phys/6 fire. Attack 2: 15, dmage 11 phys/8 fire. AC still 25.)
19:58 @Torokasi set the topic: Init: Janda > Ary (27/58) > Crow (22/37) > Mare > Para (41/44)  > Solmyr > Lilian > Ooze Golem (48/90) > Oozespawner (149 taken)
20:00 @Torokasi set the topic: Init: Janda > Ary (27/58) > Crow (22/37) > Mare > Para (41/44)  > Solmyr > Lilian > Ooze Golem (48/90) > Oozespawner (162 taken)
20:00 <@Torokasi> The two burning slams hit the ooze golem square in the shoulders, burning away at the goolem and leaving black scorch marks! Mare keeps up her fire on the spawner, hissing. "I don't like those sounds it's making...!" OOC: Para
20:02 <AutumnCrow> Having to make a judgement call, Para decides to join the mages and let Crow and Ary handle the big thing, shifting slightly to the side and launching his arrows...the first filled with a psychic burst of power! (OOC: Rapid. Using Psionic Shot on arrow 1. Attack 1: 17, 7 phys/7 psi. Attack 2: 16, damage 11.)
20:04 @Torokasi set the topic: Init: Janda > Ary (27/58) > Crow (22/37) > Mare > Para (41/44)  > Solmyr > Lilian > Ooze Golem (48/90) > Oozespawner (187 taken)
20:07 <@Torokasi> The arrows slam into the oozespawner, causing it to crack and burn on impact! On the second arrow, it emits an earpiercing whistle briefly from one of the wounds caused by the mages, before shivering...! OOC: Crow can barely see it, so Sense Motive?
20:09 <AutumnCrow> OOC: 19. Crow isn't paying much attention
20:09 <@Torokasi> OOC: Just enough, it seems.
20:11 <@Torokasi> The oozespawner's body seems to be trying to pull itself back together, Crow noticing a half-formed wolf-like shape within the spawner being reabsorbed!
20:12 <AutumnCrow> "...it's trying to reabsorb something? There's a wolf shape still in there, target that!" Crow calls out while dodging away from goolem attacks.
20:14 <@Torokasi> Solmyr grimaces, nodding to Crow. "Is it? Got it!" With that, he throws another orb of electricity, which detonates on top of the wolf-shape with surprising precision, more slime exploding everywhere! Lilian, for her part, steps up behind Crow and taps her between the shoulderblades, a warm feeling infusing Crow. "Stay safe...!"
20:15 @Torokasi set the topic: Init: Janda > Ary (27/58) > Crow (29/37) > Mare > Para (41/44)  > Solmyr > Lilian > Ooze Golem (48/90) > Oozespawner (206 taken)
20:24 @Torokasi set the topic: Init: Janda (28/31) > Ary (24/58) > Crow (26/37) > Mare (29/32) > Para (38/44)  > Solmyr (40/43) > Lilian (27/30) > Ooze Golem (48/90) > Oozespawner (206 taken)
20:24 @Torokasi set the topic: Init: Janda (28/31) > Ary (24/58) > Crow (26/37) > Mare (29/32) > Para (38/44)  > Solmyr (40/43) > Lilian (27/30) > Ooze Golem (51/90) > Oozespawner (203 taken)
20:25 <@Torokasi> The golem swings twice again at Crow, but this time Crow is much more prepared, swaying with the movements with ease! The oozespawner, meanwhile, belches a cloud of acidic slime into the entire room, everyone coughing and wincing as the acid begins to burn at their skin, feathers and scales! The ooze golem and spawner's burns, meanwhile, seem to be slightly glazed over by the mist...! Janda holds again! OOC: Ary
20:28 <AutumnCrow> Measuring his approach, Ary strides in on the big goolem and brings his sword across its midsection in a powerful blow, like he's trying to cut a rolled mat. (Move and swing, 5 into PA. Attack: 14, damage 23. If this guy has reach, Ary provokes an AoO to do that.)
20:30 @Torokasi set the topic: Init: Janda (28/31) > Ary (12/58) > Crow (26/37) > Mare (29/32) > Para (38/44)  > Solmyr (40/43) > Lilian (27/30) > Ooze Golem (28/90) > Oozespawner (203 taken)
20:33 <@Torokasi> Ary's stride in is met by a swing from the goolem, but that doesn't stop Ary from returning the blow in kind, ripping through the ooze monstrosity and dischunking a large piece of its body! Janda gasps at this, stopping her performance and stepping in to heal Ary, staying behind him to avoid contact!
20:33 @Torokasi set the topic: Init:  Ary (29/58) > Janda (28/31) > Crow (26/37) > Mare (29/32) > Para (38/44)  > Solmyr (40/43) > Lilian (27/30) > Ooze Golem (28/90) > Oozespawner (203 taken)
20:33 <@Torokasi> OOC: Crow
20:36 <AutumnCrow> Crow shifts to the side again, putting her opposite Ary's position on the goolem, then continues lashing out with her magical scarf, striking at the limbs the brute uses to attack with! (Flurry again, still Expertise. Attack 1: 19, damage 12. Attack 2: 14, damage 11. Wow)
20:38 @Torokasi set the topic: Init:  Ary (29/58) > Janda (28/31) > Crow (26/37) > Mare (29/32) > Para (38/44)  > Solmyr (40/43) > Lilian (27/30) > Ooze Golem (5/90) > Oozespawner (203 taken)
20:40 @Torokasi set the topic: Init:  Ary (29/58) > Janda (28/31) > Crow (26/37) > Mare (29/32) > Para (38/44)  > Solmyr (40/43) > Lilian (27/30) > Ooze Golem (5/90) > Oozespawner (215 taken)
20:40 <@Torokasi> The goolem shakes and shudders at Crow's blows, beginning to fall apart but barely still together despite it all! Mare looses another shot of grey energy at the orb spawner, creating another burn across its body! OOC: Para
20:42 <AutumnCrow> With all the wounds in the oozespawner, Para looks to see if he can find anything that resembles a 'core' to attack...and if he does, he shoots it! (Notice 29! Shot 1: 18, damage 5. Shot 2: 24, damage 11!)
20:44 @Torokasi set the topic: Init:  Ary (29/58) > Janda (28/31) > Crow (26/37) > Mare (29/32) > Para (38/44)  > Solmyr (40/43) > Lilian (27/30) > Ooze Golem (5/90) > Oozespawner (231 taken)
20:46 <@Torokasi> There doesn't seem to be a concrete center to the oozespawner, but Para does notice it beginning to fall apart rather rapidly, his arrows causing more chunks of slime to fall off in inert chunks! Solmyr concentrates, a flaming sphere appearing next to the oozespawner and singing it, causing a portion of it to blacken rapidly.
20:46 <@Torokasi> "Flaming Sphere? Really?" Mare comments.
20:46 <@Torokasi> "I'm out of ammo, give me a break." Solmyr gripes.
20:46 @Torokasi set the topic: Init:  Ary (29/58) > Janda (28/31) > Crow (26/37) > Mare (29/32) > Para (38/44)  > Solmyr (40/43) > Lilian (27/30) > Ooze Golem (5/90) > Oozespawner (238 taken)
20:51 <@Torokasi> Lilian blinks slightly, glancing to Janda, before stepping inward, lashing at the goolem's leg with her blade! Weakened from the ordeal, the goolem collapses under its own weight, exploding into a gooey mess that Lilian leaps back from at the last second!
20:52 @Torokasi set the topic: Init:  Ary (29/58) > Janda (28/31) > Crow (26/37) > Mare (29/32) > Para (38/44)  > Solmyr (40/43) > Lilian (27/30) > Oozespawner (238 taken)
20:53 @Torokasi set the topic: Init:  Ary (23/58) > Janda (22/31) > Crow (20/37) > Mare (23/32) > Para (32/44)  > Solmyr (34/43) > Lilian (21/30) > Oozespawner (238 taken)
20:54 @Torokasi set the topic: Init:  Ary (23/58) > Janda (22/31) > Crow (20/37) > Mare (23/32) > Para (32/44)  > Solmyr (34/43) > Lilian (21/30) > Oozespawner (232 taken)
20:54 <@Torokasi> The oozespawner quivers, disgorging another cloud of acidic slime that coats everything in the room, this one stronger! Lilian coughs through the haze, "Let's finish this thing fast!"
20:54 <@Torokasi> OOC: Ary
20:56 <AutumnCrow> Holding his breath, Ary charges for the ooze spawner, preparing himself to get splorted with a wave of acid if he hits it hard enough to make it explode. (OOC: Ary what are you doing don't charge the....fine. Charge. Full PA. Attack 16. Damage 24.)
20:59 @Torokasi set the topic: Init:  Ary (23/58) > Janda (22/31) > Crow (20/37) > Mare (23/32) > Para (32/44)  > Solmyr (34/43) > Lilian (21/30)\
21:01 <@Torokasi> The blade cuts deep into it, practically halfway through the room of slime - and seems to freeze in time there for a moment, before the entirety of the ooze mass just slumps downward like a tidal wave out into the hallway! OOC: Reflex. Luckily this was done in the right order.
21:04 <AutumnCrow> OOC: Ary....8. Crow 29 + Evasion(she will litterally jump on something to get out the way), Para 20.
21:09 @Torokasi set the topic: Init:  Ary (7/58) > Janda (6/31) > Crow (20/37) > Mare (7/32) > Para (24/44)  > Solmyr (38/43) > Lilian (5/30)
21:10 <@Torokasi> Para avoids the worst of it with a tactical jump, and Crow manages to dodgeroll to the side and onto a pile of rubble above the acidic burst, but no one else was so lucky, the acid wave crashing over them! Regardless, once it subsides, it seems like even the spawner has fallen...! OOC: Free act.
21:11 <@Torokasi> Janda's face scrunches up. "Weeping Lady's tears cleanse me, I feel like I'm never going to be clean again..."
21:13 <AutumnCrow> "Uhlemi, will it be safe to leave this....slime...here, or will we need to clean it up before it reforms or something?" Crow stays on her makeshift perch while looking for a place to hop down to that isn't acid slime covered
21:17 <@Torokasi> There is a brief silence, before, "The acids should neutralize themselves within a few minutes. The slime should.... be inert, but requesting that your team observe to ensure no reformation happens."
21:20 <AutumnCrow> "Everyone hurt retreat from the room, Janda start washing people off with your conjured water quickly. I'll keep an eye on things for now."
21:21 <@Torokasi> Janda nods quickly as the group retreats, Solmyr going with the group to assist with healing, Para sticking with Crow to assist with the watch as he wades onto the rubble. "After the initial wave it's just tingly." he comments wryly.
21:23 <AutumnCrow> "I'd still rather not risk it melting through my clothes," Crow replies with a deadpan.
21:24 <@Torokasi> "Sure." Para nods, wiping off some from his own clothes again.
21:27 <@Torokasi> Uhlemi speaks up after a moment, "The Alchemical Overcore is producing alkaline agents to counteract the acid. When you have the time, requesting your team also retrieve those and apply those to the acid in the room."
21:28 <AutumnCrow> "Para, can you and Solmyr handle that?" She pauses, then adds, "Presuming there's no detected dangers near the Alchemy Overcore?"
21:31 <@Torokasi> "None are currently detected." Uhlemi confirms. Para nods silently, gauges the distance between the rubble and the door, and leaps most of the way to the door, managing to make only a small splash in the slime before quickly jogging out.
21:35 <@Torokasi> It's only a few moments, it feels like, before Solmyr and Para return, each carrying a small pellet. "This was all there was. Uhlemi said this was enough, that it'd be a chain reaction. Based on that, you probably want to be outside the room, Crow." Solmyr calls in.
21:36 — AutumnCrow lightly jumps down and slips out of the room, making minimal contact with acid.
21:39 → Dracos joined (~Dracos@c-73-170-187-100.hsd1.ca.comcast.net)
21:39 <@Torokasi> Solmyr nods and steps back as Crow exits the room and gets clear of the acid, the rest of the group damp and wet but cleaned up from the acidic goop. "On three, Para?" Solmyr asks, as Para nods. The two toss the pellets in, and the green ooze suddenly foams up, turning white and massively expanding, the room practically filling with white foam as the group watches.
21:41 <@Torokasi> "It should take approximately two hours for the foam to recede." Uhlemi recites impassionately.
21:43 <AutumnCrow> "Frankly after that fight we need to return to basecamp, heal up and rest anyway." Crow shrugs.
21:47 <@Torokasi> "Acknowledged. There seem to be no threats moving toward your group right now, nor any threats within range that I sense." Uhlemi notes.
21:49 <@Torokasi> Lilian tilts her head slightly. "Is there a reason you needed us here beyond the slime disposal?"
21:49 <@Torokasi> "Not currently. Rest and recuperation is recommended."
21:51 <@Torokasi> "...on a related note, Solmyr..." Janda turns to Solmyr, a frown on her face. "Why didn't you use Flaming Sphere at the start of the fight? You could have let that singe the ...whatever-it-was while you fired other spells at it."
21:53 <AutumnCrow> "I don't think I've seen that spell before, to be honest," Crow notes.
21:54 <@Torokasi> "...because I don't think about Flaming Sphere when it comes from my wanderer spells, like it did today?" Solmyr replies, a mixture of anger and embarrassment on his face. "My fault there, yeah, but normally I don't think about those spells except for support." Then, to Crow, "Yeah. You see my healing wanderer spells and my offensive warmage spells, but there's a few offensive tricks in the wanderer book, too."
21:55 <AutumnCrow> "Well, I suppose everything looks inefficient compared to warmage spells, when it comes to attacking."
21:57 <@Torokasi> "There is that, too." Solmyr grins.
22:00 <@Torokasi> "All right. Let's get back to base." Ary says after a moment. "Acid got into every crevasse of this armor and it's going to take forever to oil it back into working shape."
22:03 <AutumnCrow> "The perils of relying on heavy armor," Crow snickers.